Raymond Gerald Joseph Pelissier

Raymond Gerald Joseph Pelissier, aged 92, passed away on May 9, 2026, at his winter home in North Fort Myers, Florida. Born in Medford, Massachusetts on January 5, 1934, he was the son of Charles Adolphe and Eva Rose (LaPierre) Pelissier. Ray was raised in Medford until the age of ten, until the untimely passing of his mother. As such, Ray and his younger siblings were then placed in an orphanage in Fall River, Massachusetts. He attended Fall River public schools and graduated from Durfee High School with the class of 1953. Later in life, Ray would serve as the Treasurer for the Durfee High School Alumni Association.

Ray worked a variety of jobs early in his career before accepting a position with the Charles C. Copeland Company, a PepsiCo distribution firm. A devoted employee, Ray worked for Copeland for 37 years, rising to the role of manager. His territory was based on the South Shore, and Ray made sure to get to know everyone along the route, remembering the small details and greeting his clients with a smiling face. In addition to working for Copeland, he served on the Board of Directors for the Copeland Family Foundation, helping to give back to the community with the company he was so proud to be a part of.

Shortly after graduating from high school, Ray met Georgette Marie Rioux. The pair were wed after a whirlwind courtship, becoming husband and wife the following Thanksgiving- November 25,1954 at the ages of 19 and 20. Their family would grow as they welcomed the births of their children Arthur, Eva, Gerald, Denise, and Roger. In 1964, the Pelissier family moved to the charming suburban town of Walpole, Massachusetts. Ray worked hard to take care of his family, often working multiple jobs, but always looked forward to any time they could spend together, even taking the opportunity to bring his kids along with him to work every third Saturday at the PepsiCo bottling plant. He found community in Walpole, joining the local Knights of Columbus, Council 1319 and obtaining 4th degree of membership. Ray and Georgette enjoyed traveling when they could, occasionally taking their children on vacation to warm and sunny Florida, as well as traveling with his sister Jeanne and brother-in-law Tom, when the kids were older. Back at home, Ray could sometimes be found slow dancing in the kitchen with his bride as if it were their first dance, until her passing in late 1999 after a long illness.

Most people are lucky if they fall in love once in their lives, Ray was especially lucky as he found a second chance at love when he was introduced to Anita Yvette Rousseau the following year. The pair dated for several years before walking down the aisle on August 25, 2007, in Saint Patrick's Church in Somerset, Massachusetts. They enjoyed more than two decades in each other's company. Ray and Anita loved to travel together, visiting Aruba, Germany, Jamaica, and Florida. They also purchased a motor home which they used to see sights across the country: their favorites Maine and Cape Cod. In recent years, the pair became snowbirds, spending December to May in North Fort Myers, Florida, and the rest of the year in Somerset, Massachusetts, where he was an active member of the Men's Club at Saint Patrick's and Our Lady of Peace Church.

With friends, Ray was had a super quick-whit. He loved golf, both playing and watching, and always joked that he was the only person to play it for so long yet never improve. In fact, he golfed until he was 89 years old and served as President of the Retirement Men’s Golf League in Florida. Ray also sat on the Board of Directors for the Indian Creek Association at their winter home at North Fort Myers. Ray loved to laugh and to hear other people laugh, telling jokes every night before bed even if he or he beloved toy poodle Truffles were the only ones awake to hear them.

More than anything though, he loved his family. It was a wonderful day when Ray was granted the title of Pépère, thrilled for his family to grow again and step into a grandfatherly role. Each new addition to the family was another person to love. He looked forward to seeing his family, especially at Christmas Eve when everyone could gather in one place, delaying their departure South and enduring the cold of November and December so that they could all be together for those special days. Ray always answered the phone with a "Hello, hello, hello", and ended every conversation with an "I love you more", something his family will always cherish.

Beloved husband of Anita Yvette Rousseau, and the late Georgette Marie (Rioux) Pelissier.

Loving father of Arthur R. Pelissier and his wife Paula of Hanover, Eva M. Gaudreau and her husband Henry of Chesaning, Michigan, Gerald P. Pelissier and his wife Sherry of Plymouth, Denise J. Brown and her husband Peter of Mansfield, and Roger D. Pelissier and his wife Nancy of Wellesley.

Cherished Pépère of Andrew, Jamie, Thomas, Michelle, Nicole, KellyAnn, Amanda, and Timothy; and Great-Pépère of Graham, Caroline, Luke, Milo, Connor, Theo, Matthew, Quinn, Vivian, Evelyn, and Reece.

Brother of Norman Pelissier of Joppa, Maryland, Paul Pelissier of Holly Hill, Florida, Claire Ruggiero of Somerset, Albert Pelissier and his wife Patricia of Weymouth, the late Charlie Pelissier and his surviving wife Rita of Somerset, and the late Jeanne Holden and her surviving husband Thomas of Lewisville, Texas.

Also survived by his beloved dog Truffles, many loving nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, cousins, and friends.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Ray's Visitation on Friday, May 22nd, 2026, from 4:00 - 7:00 pm in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole.

All are invited to gather in the funeral home on Saturday, May 23rd, 2026, at 9:00 am prior to Raymond's Mass of Christian Burial that will be celebrated in Blessed Sacrament Church, 10 Diamond Street, Walpole, at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow at Knollwood Memorial Park, Canton.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Raymond's name may be made to American Heart Association at PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692 or by visiting https://www.heart.org/en/affiliates/massachusetts and selecting 'Donate'.