Joseph R.H. Lagasse

LEWISTON- Joseph Roger Henri Lagasse, 74, of Lewiston died on Sunday, March 8, 2015 at the Hospice House of Androscoggin with his family by his side following a short illness. He was born in Lewiston, Maine on March 22, 1940 the son of the late Dominique and Mabel (Lachapelle) Lagasse and had been a resident of this community all of his life. He had a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at the Columbia University in 1975. He had a career in the military, having served twenty-one years on US soil as well as in Germany, France, Japan, Thailand and as part of the 589th Battalion A Company in Vietnam for a tour of duty in 1967 to 1968. Designations as received during military service include the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal, Purple Heart, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and Four Presidential Unit Stations. Joseph enjoyed fishing, hunting, travel and volunteerism. He was a lifetime member of the National Exchange Club starting in 1972, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, four years volunteer service at St. Mary’s Hospital of Lewiston, four years on the Board of Directors American Red Cross, two years on the Board of Directors at the YWCA in Lewiston and was the head coach of the Lewiston Recreation “weeeeeos” for eleven years. He is survived by his wife the former Gisele Irene Denis, formerly of Villeres-en-Hayes, France, whom he married on December 5, 1958 of Lewiston; four daughters Dolores Robitaille and partner Andy Castonguay of Lewiston, Jeannine-Anna Levesque and her husband Leo of Lewiston, Anne Marie Fitzler and her husband Michael of Wilmington, MA and Dianne Durkin and her husband Tim of Plains, PA; his grandchildren Steven Robitaille and partner Heather Marsh, Scott Robitaille, Stacey Chase and her husband Kevin, Ryan Lagasse and his wife Stacey, Billy Gayton, Joshua Fitzler, Alex Fitzler, Angelina Davis-Durkin, Joseph Davis-Durkin and Corinne Durkin; four great grandchildren Aidan Robitaille, Morgan Chase, Ethan Lagasse and Ellie Lagasse; his siblings Rita Berry, Jeanne Estrella and her husband Abraham and Leo Lagasse; brother-in-law Claude Philippe and his wife Nicole and sister-in-laws Elizabeth and Jinette Denis all of Europe; and many nieces and nephews in the United States and in Europe.

He was predeceased by his parents Dominique and Mabel Lagasse and his daughter Nicole “Nicky” Lagasse. Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.lynchbrothers.com . NOTICE Lagasse- Died in Auburn on Sunday March 8, 2015. Mr. Joseph R. H. age 74 a resident of Lewiston. A Funeral Mass honoring Joseph’s life will be celebrated on Thursday at 11:00 AM at Holy Cross Church. Committal services with military honors will follow at 1:00 PM at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Mt. Vernon Road in Augusta. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Joseph’s memory to the American Cancer Relay for Life c/o Great Falls Credit Union 34 Bates St., Lewiston, Maine 04240. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 2-4 & 7-9 PM at the Pinette Dillingham & Lynch Funeral Home 305 Alfred A. Plourde Parkway, Lewiston 784-4023.