Clarence J. Cormier

Clarence J. “Clancy” Cormier, 96, of Winchendon, formerly of Gardner, died peacefully, Tuesday, October 20, 2020, in Athol Memorial Hospital, after a short illness.

Born in Gardner on July 19, 1924, he was the son of the late Wilfred and Marceline (Thibodeau) Cormier. He graduated from Gardner High School with the Class of 1943 but later received his diploma in 1999 due to his enlistment in the military.

Clarence was a United States Army World War II Veteran serving from 1943 to 1945. While deployed in Europe, Clarence fought in the Rhineland Offensive, the Western Allied Invasion of Germany, and the Ardennes Counteroffensive, which included the Battle of the Bulge –where he was ultimately captured by the enemy and became a prisoner of war. He received the World War II Victory Medal, American Theater Campaign Ribbon, European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon, and the Good Conduct Medal. In 2003, Clarence, along with 61 other veterans in the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam, received Bronze Stars for their actions in World War II from then-Governor Mitt Romney, and would also, later on, receive the Purple Heart and the French Legion of Honour—France's highest military honor.

Clarence was an engineer employed by Leavitt Machine Company of Orange for 20-years, where he was able to travel the world until his retirement in 1995. He was a parishioner of Annunciation Parish/ Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church of Gardner. He was a life member of the Ovila Case VFW Post 905 of Gardner, a member of American Legion Post 129 of Gardner, a life member of the Prisoners of War National Association, a member of the Acadien Social Club of Gardner, and a member of the Napoleon Club of Gardner. Clarence continued his civic involvement for his country by working for Gardner's people on its Golf Commission and as a Ward 3 City Councilor for several years.

Clarence was an avid golfer. He had five aces and once won the club championship. He enjoyed traveling and playing cards. He was an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots, and Boston Celtics, and in his later years watching his grandson play in the MLB. Clarence was a family man who loved and treasured time spent with his family.

Clarence is survived by his three sons, Richard C. Cormier and his wife Claudia of Virginia, Phillip Cormier and his wife Julie of Bangor, ME, and Alan Cormier and his wife Roberta of Norwood; three daughters, Denise Joseph and her husband Charles of Bradenton, FL, Celeste Drake and her husband Jay of Gardner, and Michelle Demaio and her husband James of Mason, NH; eleven grandchildren, Jason Goguen, Taryn Burns, Elliot, and Oliver Drake, Alana, Beau, Chloe, Caisse, William, Isabel, and Ross Cormier, four great-grandchildren, Benjamin and Tyler Goguen and Emerson and Marleaux Burns; several nieces nephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by his wife of 65-years, Theresa E. (Robichaud) Cormier, who died in 2012; a brother, Norman Cormier; and a sister, Irene Therrien.

A Private Burial with Full Military Honors will be held at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 111 Glenallen Street, Winchendon, MA.

A Calling Hour will be private.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Boston’s Wounded Veterans, 60 Paris Street, East Boston, MA 02128 or on their website at (www.theyfoughtweride.com). Please reference in memory of Clarence J. Cormier.