Louis Charpentier

LEOMINSTER- Louis Charpentier, 104, of Leominster, died Wednesday, June 3, in the Highlands after a short illness. Mr. Charpentier was born in St. Claude, Canada, December 10, 1910. Louis began carving at age 7. In 1923, at the age of 12, he left Canada with his parents and came to Leominster. At the age of 20, Louis worked as a Plastics Designer. He advanced to the model-making department. He worked for New England Novelty Company, Commonwealth Plastic Company, and Paragon Plastic. They manufactured jewelry, buttons, toys, and dolls. During this time in his 20's, he liked telling others that he and his friends weight lifted. He was at one time able to lift 120 pounds over his head with one hand. He also got an amateur fly weight boxing license. During WWII, he worked with disabled veterans, helping in their rehab at Fort Devens. In 1949, he moved to Merriam Avenue where he started the Christmas tradition. There he started carving figurines out of Styrofoam. He decorated his front yard annually with the Christmas decorations he had created. There are over 160 figures, some life size. He also collected signatures in a guest book located with the figures and typically gathered between 5,000 to 7,000 signatures in his guestbook each Christmas season. In 1960, he carved a life sized crucifix out of red oak for St. Cecilia's Church, which is still in use today. It hangs about 25 feet above the altar. The city of Leominster named him Citizen of the Year in 1982. In 1983, the Exchange Club of Fitchburg presented him with The Book of Golden Deeds. In 1984, the Leominster Public Library planted a tree in his honor at the entrance to the library. In 1988, he was invited by the Smithsonian Institute for two weeks to demonstrate his talents in wood and Styrofoam carving. In 1994, on the occasion of Fitchburg State College's Centennial Celebration, Louis was named one of the one hundred individuals who made a difference. That same year, he was given the Young at Heart Award by U. S. Healthcare Medicare Plan. In November 2000, a tot lot playground, located in the same Leominster neighborhood he emigrated to, was named in his honor. After Louis retired, he spent 20 years working with school children teaching them the basics of Styrofoam carving. He also demonstrated at the former Plastics Museum once a week. On the occasion of his 100th birthday, the city of Leominster presented him with a plaque congratulating him on his birthday. He never thought 88 years ago when he moved to Leominster, that the city would mean so much to him. It did, and he truly appreciated all that had been done for him! He leaves his son, Ernest Charpentier of Leominster; his grandchildren and great grandchildren, Paulette Pedigo and her husband, Lee, and their children, Crystal Stone and Craig Bastarache, Katharina Pfeiffer and her husband, Eric, and their children, Jason Marcoulier and his wife Elizabeth, and Jake Marcoulier, and Brian Charpentier and his wife, Diane, and their children Brianne and Kyle; one great great grandson, Tyler Stone; one sister, Betty Belliveau; many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, Gladys (Parent) Charpentier, his brothers, Lucien, Lionel, Eugene, Gerard, and Dennis, and his sisters, Isabelle Berthold, Fleurette Bolduc, Rita Therrien, Virginia Nault, and Sr. Patricia Charpentier. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, June 8 at 11:00 A. M. in St. Cecilia's Church. Burial will follow on St. Cecilia's Cemetery. Calling hours are Sunday, June 7, from 1:00 to 5:00 P. M. in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Maryann/Louis Charpentier Scholarship Fund, c/o Narragansett Regional School District, 464 Baldwinville Rd., Baldwinville, MA 01436.