J. Arthur Bastarache

J. Arthur Bastarache, 95, of Gardner, died peacefully on December 17, 2024, in Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Gardner after an illness..

Born in Bouctouche, New Brunswick, Canada, on July 14, 1929, he was the son of the late Elzear and Mary Lou (Arsenault) Bastarache. He was a torch cutter at Garbose Metal Company for many years prior to his retirement. He was previously employed at Heywood-Wakefield Co. in Gardner.

Arthur was a parishioner of Annunciation Parish of Gardner, practicing at its Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, where he was a Eucharistic Minister for a time. In his younger years, he was an avid fisherman. He and his wife enjoyed square dancing. They also enjoyed many bus trips with friends and a big trip out west with a couple of their daughters, and travel to Canada to visit relatives.

Arthur is survived by his wife of 73 years, Cecilia (Allain) Bastarache of Leominster, five daughters, Diane Hastings of Phillipston, Annette Ingman and her husband Rick Franklin of Arizona, Jeanne Bastarache of PA, Elaine Mallory of Lunenburg, and Rachel Brown and her husband Andrew of NC; one brother Jerome Bastarache of Canada; two sisters Maria Cormier of Bouctouche, NB, Canada, and Sr. Regina Premilia Bastarache of Missouri; several nieces, nephews.

He was predeceased by his son, Paul, who died in 1976; four brothers, Neri, Romeo, Adrian, and Joseph Bastarache; and two sisters, Elise Ann Richard, and Angel Cormier.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, December 21, 2024, from the Boucher Funeral Home, Inc., 110 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA, with a Mass at 11:00 a.m. in Annunciation Parish at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, 135 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA. Burial will at Notre Dame Cemetery, West Street, Gardner, MA, will be private. 

Calling Hours will be held Saturday, December 21, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the funeral home.

Memorial Contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or on their website at (www.stjude.org) or to Hanover Hospice, 10 N Main Street,1st Floor, Fall River, MA 02720. Please reference in memory of J. Arthur Bastarache