BIDDEFORD — Raoul “Rusty” Rossignol, 94, of Maine Veterans Home, Scarborough, died surrounded by his family, early Friday morning, April 28, 2017. He was born, June 8, 1922, in Frenchville, Maine, the son of Ubald and Delia Daigle Rossignol. The family moved to Biddeford in 1923, where he spent all of his life.

Rusty was educated at St. Joseph’s School, in Biddeford, and received a GED from Biddeford High School in 1980.

In August of 1942, he enlisted in the US Army. On June 6, 1944, he arrived at Omaha Beach Normandy, France, as a part of the D-Day invasion force to liberate Europe. He disembarked his ship, on his 22nd birthday, June 8, 1944. During this time, he served as an Engineer in the 786th Engineer Petroleum Distribution Company. They were responsible for setting up petroleum tank farms and pipelines to support the invasion forces in France, Belgium and Germany. He was discharged from the Army in November of 1945, and returned home to Biddeford.

On Jan. 12, 1946, he married Therese Lambert, at St. Andre’s Church, in Biddeford.

After his military service, he returned to work at Saco Lowell Shops as a machinist, where he had worked before the war.

In 1960, he started his own business, and was self-employed as a homebuilder and cabinetmaker up until 1979. At that time, he went to work at Pratt and Whitney in North Berwick, working there until 1988 when he retired.

During his lifetime, Rusty was a member of the Biddeford and Saco Lion’s Club, serving as “King Lion” for two years. Rusty also served two terms as President of the Board of Directors of St. Andre’s Federal Credit Union. He was very active in St. Andre’s Parish, donating his time and skills for many church improvement projects.

Rusty was preceded in death by: brothers Alphee Rossignol, Lucien Rossignol, Patrick Bourgoin and Hector “Pete” Bourgoin; sisters Jeanne Houser and Theresa Binette; and grandson, Andrew Marc Rossignol.

He is survived by: his wife of 71 years, Therese; four sons and a niece, Norman and his wife, Cecile (Fleurant) Rossignol, of Biddeford, Roger and his wife, Jane (Thibeault) Rossignol, of Danforth, Maine, Richard and his wife, Lenore (Kilka) Rossignol, of Biddeford, Marc and his wife, Stephanie (Keeley) Rossignol, of Cumming, Georgia and Frances Consalvo and her husband, David, of Biddeford; several other nieces and nephews; grandchildren Timothy Rossignol, Stephanie Kessler, Beth Yvonne, Kate Lantz, Matthew Rossignol, Elizabeth Rossignol and Abigail Rossignol; great grandchildren Cameron Kessler, Kayla Kessler, Bradley Rossignol, Jameson Rossignol, Chase Rossignol, Scarlett Lantz and Andi Rossignol; and great-great grandchild, Andrew Kessler.

Visiting hours will be 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 4, 2017, at Hope Memorial Chapel 480 Elm Street, Biddeford, ME 04005.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday at St. Joseph’s Church in Biddeford. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Biddeford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name, to the Maine Veterans Home, 290 US Route 1, Scarborough, Maine, 04074, mainevets.org. Arrangements are by Hope Memorial Chapel. To share condolences online, please visit HopeMemorial.com.

 

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