Fabian J Chiasson

Fabian J. Chiasson, Major USAFR (Retired) Fabian “Fabe” Joseph Chiasson, 97, of Athol died peacefully on June 27, 2017 at Athol Hospital surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Athol on August 21, 1919 to Peter and Lena (Robichaud) Chiasson. He graduated from Athol High School in 1936 and in 1942, he married Elizabeth “Tip” Cutter. They celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary in January 2017. Fabe was one of the last surviving original Athol Daily News paperboys, a job that gave him the opportunity to meet many people in lots of neighborhoods. He delighted in regaling generations of “Atholites” with recollections of their grandparents or great-grandparents. His memory was so remarkable that even on the day he died, Fabe shared information about her husband’s family with one of the many hospital employees who spent time with him. During World War II, Fabian enlisted in the US Army Air Force. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, serving in the 302nd Air Transport Group as a troop transport pilot in the European theater. After the war, he served in France and Germany as an English/French interpreter and investigator on cases involving Air Force personnel with the American Graves Registration Command. He was released from active duty in 1946 and served with the US Air Force Reserves until retiring in 1971 at the rank of Major. Following active military duty, Fabe returned to Athol and worked in several area industries, retiring in 1981 from Rodney Hunt Company. Fabe had many interests including golf, genealogy, gardening and classical music. He delighted in social occasions with his family as well as with friends, both old and new. He was a life-long learner who loved developing new skills, including learning to use the laptop computer he got for his 90th birthday! In addition to his beloved wife Tip, Fabe leaves four children - Nancy Tatro, David Chiasson, William Chiasson and Carole Vaidulas and son-in-law Larry Vaidulas. He also leaves five grandchildren – Christopher Tatro (Allison Kaplan), Andrew Tatro (Andee Browne-Tatro), Jonathan Chiasson, Kathryn Vaidulas Hayes (Jerod Hayes) and Brian Vaidulas and three great-grandchildren – Julian, Elizabeth “Lizzy” and Brian Tatro as well as many nieces and nephews, an aunt, several cousins, sister-in-law Margaret Cutter and many friends. He was predeceased by his parents, brothers Leonard and Ralph Chiasson, sisters Theresa (Walter) Anderson and Emily (C. Foster) Harper and son-in-law Marshall “Mike” Tatro. A memorial service will be held on August 20, 2017, details will be available in early August. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations in Fabe’s memory be made to the Athol Hospital building fund, the Gardner Visiting Nurses Association or a charity of one’s choice. Heartfelt thanks and gratitude are extended to the visiting nurses, aides and therapists who gave Fabe such wonderful care at home, to the police, fire and EMT personnel who were always there when needed with compassion and friendliness, and to the staff at Athol Hospital who all gave him excellent care, comfort, treatment, dignity and friendship. To leave an online condolence please visit www.mackfamilyfh.com Fiske-Murphy & Mack, a Mack Family Funeral Home 110 New Athol Rd Orange, MA 01364 is directing arrangements.