St. Onge, Thomas
Thomas St. Onge, age 74, beloved husband of 56 years to Rachel (Cyr) St. Onge, of Plainville, died peacefully on route home to Connecticut from his second home in New Smyrna Beach in Florida.
Born on March 21, 1948 he was raised in Madawaska, Maine and he moved to Connecticut in 1966 after his marriage to Rachel Cyr. He is survived by Rachel; his son, Robert (Bob) and Marietta (Krahula) St. Onge; his daughter, Debra and Kevin McMahon; and his six grandchildren: Sierra, Cassandra and Jesse St. Onge and Una, Adam and Andrea McMahon. He was predeceased by his mother, Adeline (Pelletier) St. Onge and his father, Normand (Paul) St. Onge; his sisters, Carol Plourd and Lorraine St. Onge; his brothers, Robert and Don St. Onge; and many beloved Pelletier and St. Onge Uncles and Aunts. A special Aunt, Rita St. Onge, is still going strong at 97.
He leaves three brothers and one sister: Richard and Elsie (Campbell) St. Onge, of Old Orchard, Maine; Daniel (Dan) and Sheila (Mitchell) St. Onge, of Saraland, Alabama; James (Jim) and Maria St. Onge, of Bristol; Linda (St. Onge) and Jim Leis, of Stoneham, Mass.; his sister-in-law, Margie St. Onge; his brother-in-law, Maurice Plourd; and many nieces and nephews.
Tom will be missed by his friends at McDonald’s coffee get togethers as well as his friends at the Senior Center. Tom was a sociable friend to all around town where he knew and spoke regularly to every grocery cashier. He frequented and supported Plainville small businesses and recommended each to the other, making connections that helped many people get the right person for the job or connect old friends.
Tom was known by coworkers as a very hard worker. He started out his 40 years as a meat cutter at various stores in the area, becoming manager and even owned his own butcher shop in Farmington. He even worked part time butchering meat when he started working at Pratt and Whitney Southington Repair until he was transferred to Hartford Engine Repair as manager of the paint shop where he retired after 29 years.
His retirement took Tom and Rachel by RV to Alaska via several National Parks, visiting family in Boise, Idaho and Bremerton, Washington, and driving the Yukon and British Columbia provinces of Canada. Maine was a regular RV trip for reunions and seeing friends like Jacques and family. Camping on the Cape or at Fishermans Memorial with the Gondeks, Sebastians, Noyes and our kids were special. Our regular RV trips in winter to Florida to visit Bob and Gloria or Dick and Marilyn Ruff led to purchasing a 5th wheel which we enjoyed the last three years.
Tom’s adult kids and 6 grandkids are his proudest accomplishments. Helping them with college or buying a car made him feel closest to them. He will be missed dearly by all of his family and friends.
Donations in memory of Tom can be made to the Plainville Senior Center, 200 East St, Plainville, CT 06062 or to the Plainville Community Food Pantry, 54 S. Canal St., Plainville, CT 06062.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, February 16 at 1 PM at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 94 Broad St., Plainville. Burial will follow in Saint Joseph Cemetery, Plainville. Family and friends are welcome to gather at the church from 12 to 1 PM prior to Mass. The staff at Plainville Funeral Home, 81 Broad St., Plainville have been entrusted with the arrangements.