William Alfred "Bill" Collette

04/06/2005

William Alfred "Bill" Collette, 78, of 201 East Road died Wednesday at the North Adams Commons, where he was admitted April 4. Born in North Adams on July 17, 1926, son of Joseph A. and Margaret Mary Lebert Collette, he attended schools there, including Drury High School. He also took courses at GE while employed there. A Navy veteran of World War II, he served on the USS Randolph aircraft carrier in the Pacific and European theaters as a seaman first class, and was decorated for his service. Mr. Collette had been employed by GE in Pittsfield as a technician for 35 years, retiring in 1986. After retirement, he worked at the Ashley Swift Plumbing Co. in North Adams as a truck driver and maintenance worker for three years. Earlier, he worked at the former Gale Shoe Co. until it ceased operations and then at the former Sprague Electric Co., both in North Adams. He was an active member of the Harvest Christian Ministries in Bennington, Vt., where he volunteered at the Soup Kitchen in Bennington and North Adams. He also played the guitar for praise and worship each day at the kitchen and was called "pastor" of the Harvest Kitchen. He also served as a greeter and usher at the church. He was a volunteer at the Berkshire Food Project and a member of Northern B.A.R.C. He was a member of the Northern Berkshire Rock and Mineral Club. He served as civil defense director for the town of Clarksburg and held a general class citizens band radio license. He was a skilled craftsman in Tiffany-style stained glass and made many lamps, windows and jewelry boxes. He enjoyed woodworking and tole painting. His wife, the former Shirley Mae Young, whom he married Feb. 15, 1947, in Notre Dame Church, North Adams, died Jan. 15, 2002. He leaves three daughters, Susan Margaret Hartman of Clarksburg, Donna Jeanne Lesure of Manassas, Va., and Rosemary Anne Benoit of Pittsfield; two sisters, Isabelle Ponti of North Adams and Phyllis Flaherty of Syracuse, N.Y., eight grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by another daughter, Sheila Marie Macek, who died Jan. 27, 1973, and a son, William John Joseph Collette, who died in infancy. FUNERAL NOTICE -- Services to celebrate the life of William Alfred "Bill" Collette will take place Saturday at 11 at the FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME for FUNERALS, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams, with the Rev. Robert Lebert, pastor of the Harvest Christian Ministries, officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Southview Cemetery, North Adams. Calling hours will be today, Friday, from 4 to 7 at the funeral home. Memorial donations are suggested for the Harvest Christian Ministries in Bennington, Vt., or to the charity of the donor's choice through the funeral home. Survivors include three sons-in-law, Donald Hartman, Robert Lesure and David Benoit, eight grandchildren, Shawn Benoit, Shane Benoit, Kim Gould, James Lesure, Jeanne Lesure, Krista Troilo, Jeffrey Macek and Joseph Hartman, and 15 great-grandchildren.

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William Alfred "Bill" Collette

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