SANFORD — Raymond Gerard Frechette, 91, of Sanford, died on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019 at Varney Crossing in North Berwick.
Faith, family, music and friends were Ray’s life. He was born in Sanford on April 8, 1927 to Emile and Yvonne Comeau Frechette. He attended Notre Dame and St. Ignatius schools and graduated from St. Ignatius High School. He served in the Merchant Marines and the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. William P. Biddle during World War II. After being honorably discharged from active duty in 1946, he continued to serve in the Naval Reserve for an additional 10 years. In 1949, he married Cecile LeFebvre and together they raised two children and shared nearly 70 years of marriage. During his working life, Ray was employed by the Goodall Mills until they closed in 1954. He went on to work for Allied and South Berwick Shoe companies, Simplex Cable in North Berwick, American Cyanamid, Ridder Press, Moor Business Farm in Dover, New Hampshire and finally for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard where he worked as a machinist until his retirement in 1989.
Ray led his own orchestra known as the Ray Frechette Orchestra from 1947 to 1954. He played violin and guitar for prenuptial dances and weddings throughout Maine. In his later years he enjoyed entertaining residents at nursing homes in Sanford, Biddeford and Portland. He was also a member of the Maine French Fiddlers, representing Franco American culture in the United States with performances at venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Merkin Concert Hall in New York. In 2008, he was recognized by the Rustic French Club for his contributions to music of the Franco-American Culture. He was a member of the Maine Arts and National Arts Associations, The Maine Country Music Association, L’Hermione St. Jean Baptiste, the Cursillo movement, the St. Ignatius Guild, the AARP and the NARF Association. Ray will be remembered as a very kind and loving man who was devoted to his family. He will be dearly missed.
Ray was predeceased by two sisters, Anita and Lucille.
Surviving are his wife, Cecile Frechette, two children, Rachel Frechette-Hatch and John Frechette and his wife Sandra; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation will be held at the Lafrance-Lambert & Black Funeral Home, located at 29 Winter St. in Sanford on Saturday, Feb. 2 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10 a.m. at St. Thérèse of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church, located on North Avenue in Sanford. Interment will be in the spring at St. Ignatius Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford/Springvale.
To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit www.blackfuneralhomes.com.
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