Bennington- Francis S. “Frank” Lajeunesse, 89, formerly of Troy and Poestenkill, retired in Bennington, VT, and more recently residing at the Fairwinds Residential Care Home, died peacefully Saturday, April 6, 2024, at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center following a short illness.
Born in Brunswick July 14, 1934, Frank was the son of the late Rosario and Sarah (Scott) Lajeunesse and the husband of the late Jeanne B. (Cipperly) and the late Joyce R. (Bloomer) Lajeunesse.
After graduating from Troy High School, Frank was employed for two years as a steam fitter helper at the General Electric Company in Schenectady before enlisting in the United States Navy on February 18, 1953. After serving more than two years as a fireman at the Naval Station in Newport, Rhode Island, he was honorably discharged on February 17, 1955.
After returning home, Frank married Jeanne Cipperly. He attended Hudson Valley Community College, earned a Bachelor’s Degree at Siena College in Loudonville, and a Master’s Degree in Engineering at Union College in Schenectady, all while helping to raise five daughters and holding a 40-hour work week at Ford Motor Company.
For over 36 years, Frank was employed by the Ford Motor Company at the former Green Island NY, Detroit MI, and most recently, the Juarez, Mexico plants, where he worked his way through the ranks until reaching the position of manufacturing engineer. He retired in 1993. He stayed on as a consultant when he was asked to go to Korea for manufacturing problem solving.
Frank was a former communicant of St. Henry’s Parish in Averill Park and, more recently, Sacred Heart St. Francis in Bennington, where he was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 307 and held several offices, including Deputy Director. He was a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, a past Commander of the American Legion Sgt. Walter A. Adams Post #1020 in Sand Lake, a member of the American Legion Post #40 in Hoosick Falls, and a Vice Commander of the Rensselaer County District American Legion.
In his quiet time, Frank enjoyed gardening, woodworking, traveling, and reading about both current and past events.
Frank is survived by four daughters and sons-in-law, Donna and Thomas Patrosh, Lynne and Larry Mango, Ann and Steve Manzelli, and Pamela Mayo and Dean Baker, 10 grandchildren, George (Alison) Freeman IV, Marcella (Jeremy) Albert, Amy (Nick) Lauerman, Jeanne Mango, Lawrence (Beaux) Mango-Kraemer, Clarissa Mango, James Mayo, and Taylor and Madisson Manzelli, step grandchildren, Amanda (Jay) Priole, Douglas Hermans, and Sam and Rachel Hilton, three great-grandchildren, Maggie and Katie Freeman and Julius Lauerman, a brother, George Lajeunesse, three step-children, Doug and Glenn Hermans and Lee Hilton, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a daughter, Kathleen, a stepdaughter, Debra Weiss, and brothers and sisters, Eugene, Paul, Wilfred, Gerard, Joseph, Bernard, Florence, Harriet, Pauline, and Veronica.
Relatives and friends are invited to call at St. Henry’s Church, 39 Old Route 66, in Averill Park on Friday, April 12, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Resurrection will be celebrated on Saturday, April 13, by Father John Provost at 10:00 a.m. Burial with military honors will follow in St. Henry’s Cemetery.
Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to either the Bennington Project Independence, 614 Harwood Hill Road, Bennington, Vermont 05201, the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516, or the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of Francis S. Lajeunesse.
The Lajeunesse family would like to thank Fairwinds Residential Care Home for the exceptional care given to Francis in his final years.
Born in Brunswick July 14, 1934, Frank was the son of the late Rosario and Sarah (Scott) Lajeunesse and the husband of the late Jeanne B. (Cipperly) and the late Joyce R. (Bloomer) Lajeunesse.
After graduating from Troy High School, Frank was employed for two years as a steam fitter helper at the General Electric Company in Schenectady before enlisting in the United States Navy on February 18, 1953. After serving more than two years as a fireman at the Naval Station in Newport, Rhode Island, he was honorably discharged on February 17, 1955.
After returning home, Frank married Jeanne Cipperly. He attended Hudson Valley Community College, earned a Bachelor’s Degree at Siena College in Loudonville, and a Master’s Degree in Engineering at Union College in Schenectady, all while helping to raise five daughters and holding a 40-hour work week at Ford Motor Company.
For over 36 years, Frank was employed by the Ford Motor Company at the former Green Island NY, Detroit MI, and most recently, the Juarez, Mexico plants, where he worked his way through the ranks until reaching the position of manufacturing engineer. He retired in 1993. He stayed on as a consultant when he was asked to go to Korea for manufacturing problem solving.
Frank was a former communicant of St. Henry’s Parish in Averill Park and, more recently, Sacred Heart St. Francis in Bennington, where he was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 307 and held several offices, including Deputy Director. He was a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, a past Commander of the American Legion Sgt. Walter A. Adams Post #1020 in Sand Lake, a member of the American Legion Post #40 in Hoosick Falls, and a Vice Commander of the Rensselaer County District American Legion.
In his quiet time, Frank enjoyed gardening, woodworking, traveling, and reading about both current and past events.
Frank is survived by four daughters and sons-in-law, Donna and Thomas Patrosh, Lynne and Larry Mango, Ann and Steve Manzelli, and Pamela Mayo and Dean Baker, 10 grandchildren, George (Alison) Freeman IV, Marcella (Jeremy) Albert, Amy (Nick) Lauerman, Jeanne Mango, Lawrence (Beaux) Mango-Kraemer, Clarissa Mango, James Mayo, and Taylor and Madisson Manzelli, step grandchildren, Amanda (Jay) Priole, Douglas Hermans, and Sam and Rachel Hilton, three great-grandchildren, Maggie and Katie Freeman and Julius Lauerman, a brother, George Lajeunesse, three step-children, Doug and Glenn Hermans and Lee Hilton, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a daughter, Kathleen, a stepdaughter, Debra Weiss, and brothers and sisters, Eugene, Paul, Wilfred, Gerard, Joseph, Bernard, Florence, Harriet, Pauline, and Veronica.
Relatives and friends are invited to call at St. Henry’s Church, 39 Old Route 66, in Averill Park on Friday, April 12, 2024, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Resurrection will be celebrated on Saturday, April 13, by Father John Provost at 10:00 a.m. Burial with military honors will follow in St. Henry’s Cemetery.
Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to either the Bennington Project Independence, 614 Harwood Hill Road, Bennington, Vermont 05201, the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516, or the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of Francis S. Lajeunesse.
The Lajeunesse family would like to thank Fairwinds Residential Care Home for the exceptional care given to Francis in his final years.