Bernard A. Labonte

Sturbridge - Bernard A. Labonte, 88, of Fiske Hill Road, died Saturday, March 2, 2019, at the Southbridge Rehabilitation & Health Care Center following a long illness.
His wife of 61 years, Gloria M. (Dube) Labonte, died March 16, 2013. He is survived by his daughters, Linda Bellerive of Southbridge, and Carol Campbell and her husband David, of Sturbridge;  4 grandchildren, Eric Bellerive and his wife, Tabitha, of Southbridge, Daniel Bellerive of Southbridge, Rebecca Campbell of Sturbridge, and Claire Campbell of Sturbridge; 4 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandchild., 4 brothers, Richard Labonte of Texas, Arsene "Sammy" Labonte and his wife, Joy, of Florida, Leo Labonte and his wife, Judy, of Oxford, MA, and Robert Labonte of Florida; 2 sisters, Doris Pion of Florida, and Irene Duval of Sturbridge; and many nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his son-n-law David Bellerive (2007).

Born in Putnam, CT on July 14, 1930, he was the son of the late Joseph and Odila (Mailloux) Labonte.  Bernard was a veteran of the US Army, and he served in the Korean War. 
Bernard was a U.S. Army combat veteran who served with the 259th Antiaircraft Battalion during the Korean War. His military decorations and awards include; the United Nations Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal with 5 bronze stars, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the Good Conduct Medal.
He was a self-employed carpenter.  He also worked for many years for Rogart Builders, and the former American Optical Co.  He was a member of the VFW and served on their drill team, a past commander of the Franco Veteran's Club, the American Optical Company's fire Department, he was a call firefighter for the town of Sturbridge, and was very involved at Notre Dame Church. 

Calling hours will be Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at Sansoucy Funeral Home, 40 Marcy Street, Southbridge, MA 01550.  The funeral Mass will be Thursday, March 7, 2019 at 10AM at Notre Dame Church, 446 Main Street, Southbridge.  Burial with Military Honors will immediately follow at New Notre Dame Cemetery, 746 N. Woodstock Road, Southbridge.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider making memorial donations to the Alzheimer's Support Network of South Central Massachusetts, PO Box 839, Southbridge, MA 01550.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bernard A. Labonte, please visit our floral store.