Thomas F. Patenaude, 77, of New Bedford passed away peacefully January 16, 2009, at St. Luke's Hospital, surrounded by his beloved family.
Born in Fall River, where he grew up, to the late Francis H. and Helen (Logan) Patenaude, Tom graduated from Monsignor Coyle High School and the College of the Holy Cross, class of 1953.
He was a veteran of the United States Navy, serving aboard the USS Wadleigh, during the Suez Crisis.
Tom spent his whole working career in pharmaceuticals. He started as a sales representative. He then enjoyed many years serving the community while working at Macedo's Pharmacy and then CVS.
A long time member of the Paskamansett Beagle Club, Tom served as its treasurer for over thirty years and was one of the founding families of St. Julie Billiart Church. He enjoyed his loving family, boating, reading, gardening, bird watching, Horseneck, his dogs, and Sunday dinners.
He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 53 years, Carol Ann (Barker) Patenaude. He was also the proud father of his children, the late Mary Beth Patenaude, Thomas Patenaude Jr., and his wife Dolores of New Bedford, Jane Coache and her husband Bob of New Bedford, Holly Lestage and her husband Brent of Mattapoisett, and John Patenaude and his wife Pam of Dartmouth.
His siblings include Margaret Neilan of Somerset and Francis Patenaude of Fall River.
Tom (Pal) shared in the lives of his nine grandchildren, Dolores Fortunato and her husband Dan, Brittany Lestage, Michaela Hedberg and her husband CJ, Thomas Patenaude III and his wife Breanna, Meaghan Coache, Jillian Coache, Taylor Lestage, Logan Patenaude, and Caleb Patenaude, his two great-grandchildren Gavin Ciarcia and Derek Fortunato, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
He was predeceased by his brother Robert Patenaude and loving in-laws John and Mary Barker.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday January 20th at 10 AM at St. Julie Billiart Church, Dartmouth. Burial with military honors will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Dartmouth. Visiting hours will be held on Monday, January 19th from 4-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America, 386 Park Avenue South, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10016 or online at www.ccfa.org. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.