Donald L. LeBleu

WESTFORD - Donald L. LeBleu, 93, passed away on Thursday, January 23, with his loving family by his side.

Donald was born on February 16, 1931, in Lowell, MA to Eva and Rosario LeBleu, where he was raised. Don was educated through the 8th grade then went to work to help support his family.

Don met his wife Jeannine in the Abbot Worsted Mill in Westford, MA. When they met, Jeannine did not speak English. Don was able to speak a little French so they communicated the best they could. They dated for six months and got married on October 6, 1951. A year later, to the day, Suzanne was born. A couple years later Don and his new family moved to Oakville, Connecticut. Dianne and Steve were born soon thereafter. In 1965 the family was on the move again, this time to Lowell, MA, and along came David (supposedly at 5-year-old Steve’s request). Don obtained a job as a carpentry apprentice in Lowell, MA and earned his way to journeyman, then into the Carpenters Union in the early 1970’s.

In 1972 Don and family moved to Westford, MA where he built the house that would become his family home. He honed his carpentry skills with dear friend, Armand Perron. The two of them worked many jobs together and enjoyed a few brews along the way. Armand was the friend who drove Don to the hospital after Don suffered a serious injury when Don’s right index finger was severed while on a Saturday morning carpentry job. Armand, faint at the sight of blood, refused to look Don’s way while he drove, as Don calmly put his finger back onto the freshly cut stub.

In addition to the love of his family, Don loved boating, bowling, watching the Celtics of the 80’s and the heartbreaking Red Sox of the 80’s and 90’s. Don and JJ, as he called her, also wintered in Clearwater, Florida for many years, to be with their daughter Dianne and her family. 

Don passed on to his kids the gift of never giving up and always trying. Don could fix pretty much anything, rarely got angry and had a great sense of humor. On occasion Don would mess up his hair and imitate the high voice of his loving sister Doris. That would bring the house down. Other times he would burst into a yodel-a-he-hoo to get our attention. Don was a pet lover who had dogs throughout his life, including his beloved Mittens.

Don is now reunited with his brother Arthur, who passed in 1951, is predeceased by the love of his life, Jeannine (Lamy) LeBleu, his sisters, Doris and her husband Teddy, Dorothy and her husband Laurent, Theresa and her husband Jimmy, and Lorraine and her husband Henry. Don leaves his daughter Suzanne and husband, Bob Lamb, daughter Dianne and husband, Alex, son Steve and wife, Ella, son, David and wife, Alison. Don and Jeannine have dear grandchildren who mourn his loss, Rob and wife, Maria, Justin and wife, Julie, Ryan, Shannon, Lucas and wife, Alyssa, Grace, Stevie, Jen and husband, Donny, Kristen and husband, Mike and great grandchildren Matteo, Liana, Chase, Haileigh, Donny, Jason and Emaleigh.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Don’s Memorial Visitation on Friday, Jan. 31, from 9 AM until 9:45 AM at the Blessed Trinity Parish-St. Catherine of Alexandria Church, 107 N. Main St., Westford. His Funeral Mass will immediately follow at 10 AM. Burial in St. Catherine Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to: St. Catherine Cemetery, 2 West St., Westford, MA 01886.