Philippe O. Lajoie

Philippe O. Lajoie passed away peacefully in Port St. Lucie, FL, on June 7, 2017. He was 90 years old, a World War II veteran of the US Navy. He was in the care of his daughter, Colette L. Schweizer and her husband (Albert), with the help of Treasure Coast Hospice. He was born November 1, 1926, in Lowell, MA, the only child of Marie Louise (Daunais) Lajoie and Rene Lajoie. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1944, served on the battleship USS Missouri and was honorably discharged in 1946. Mr. Lajoie was employed for many years by Avco Systems (now Textron Corporation). He was involved with the manufacture and inspection of every ablative shield for the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo crew capsules used in the manned space program. He retired to the Orlando FL area in 1986. In 1945, Phil married Claire Michelin in Lowell. They were married for 57 years when she passed away in 2002. They had two children, Colette and Renee. Renee predeceased his parents in 1979. In 2003, Phil married Beverly Amidon, who passed away in 2013. He relocated to Port St. Lucie in 2013. He is survived by his daughter, a grandson, Patrick Thibeault in PA, a great-granddaughter, Valerie Wallover in PA, a great-great grandson Dylan Bales in PA, a cousin, Pauline Desrosiers in NH, and other cousins in MA. Beverly’s children, Doug Amidon (Diane) and Deborah Amidon, all of NY, and their children also remember Phil fondly. Mr. Lajoie’s remains have been cared for by the Aycock Funeral Home in Port St. Lucie, FL. They will be cremated and his ashes will be interred in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Chelmsford, MA with his family. A memorial service will be held in MA at a future date. In Lieu of Flowers, the family requests contributions to Treasure Coast Hospice, 5000 Dunn Rd., Ft. Pierce FL 34981.