Paul Stafford

SOUTHBRIDGE – Paul F. Stafford, 94, of Westwood Parkway, died on Wednesday, June 9, at TCU at Hubbard, after a short illness.  His wife of 46 years, Lilia C. (Jacques) (O’Neill) Stafford, predeceased him.  He leaves four step children, Jean Fairbanks, of Mashpee, Robert O’Neill, of Spencer, Peggy Girard, and Anne Marie Dorighi, both of Sturbridge; 11 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild, and many nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by four brothers, Arthur Dansereau, Chet Groh, Earl Groh, and Clifton Stafford; one sister, Muriel Blackwood, and one niece, Rosalie Fiola.

He was born in Dudley, the son of the late John H. and Rosealla (Dansereau) Stafford, and lived in the area most of his life.  He graduated from Bartlett High School in 1933, and from the School of Radio and Television in New York City.  He served in the United States Army during World War II in Central Burma, China, and India.  While serving in the Pacific, Mr. Stafford wrote articles for the Webster Times.  In 1977, he retired from the American Optical Co., where he worked as an Inspector for 24 years.  He was a member of the American Optical’s Quarter Century Club, and was an avid sports fan. 

A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30am, Friday, June 18, in Notre Dame Church, 446 Main St., Southbridge.  Calling Hours will be from 9:00 to 10:00, Friday, June 18, in the Belanger-Bullard Funeral Home, 51 Marcy St., Southbridge.  Burial will follow in St. George’s Cemetery, Paige Hill Rd., Southbridge.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the Jimmy Fund, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7226, ATTN: Contribution Services or online at http://www.jimmyfund.org/gif/ or to the Harrington Hospital Cancer Center, Harrington Hospital, 100 South Street, Southbridge, MA 01550, Attn: Contribution Services.  An online guestbook and video tribute is available at www.BelangerFuneralHome.com. 

To view the video tribute, please click on the following link:

http://memorial.yourtribute.com/paulstafford/