Raymond Joseph Chandanais Obituary
Raymond J. Chandanais, 88, of Gloucester, MA, passed away peacefully in his home on January 10, 2022, with his wife at his side after a short illness and a five year battle with dementia.
Born in Fall River, MA, he was the youngest child of Albert and Eva (Allie) Chandanais and the beloved husband of Helen E. (Wilkins). Chandanais with whom he shared 39 years of marriage. He attended Catholic school in Fall River and graduated from Durfee High School. He enlisted in the United States Air Force and trained and/or served in bases in Missouri, Biloxi, Mississippi, San Antonio, and Wichita Falls, Texas. From October 1953 to September 1954 he was stationed at Suwon, Korea, K13 Air Base where his main assignments were to reunite children with their parents and assist with the orphanage. The kindness of the people, the faces of the little children, and the destruction of their country touched him deeply, and he often talked about that experience right up until his passing. He used the GI Bill to further his studies at Bailey Technical School in St. Louis, Missouri.
In 1955 he brought his cheerful manner, his strong work ethic, and his kind heart back to Massachusetts. He married Marilyn (Miller) in 1956, welcomed their six children, and settled in Westport and then Mattapoisett. During the next years he worked for Perkins, Perkins Milton, and their evolvement to Caterpillar Milton, working from Maine down to Florida. He also worked as a Reserve Police Officer for the Westport Police Department from 1967 to 1969. However, engines were his greater love, so he continued his work on marine engines. Encouraged by Capt. Gus Alba in 1977 he moved to Gloucester and founded a business, Marine Repair, Inc, with the late Norman "Ozzie" Howard. During the next decades he worked for himself, then Caterpillar in Tewksbury, and finally, as "Ray's Repair". From the mid 1950's to 2016 if a vessel sailed into Gloucester, or Rockport, Harbor, and she had a CAT engine, he expertly serviced her. His friend and blogger Ron Gilson wrote that "Ray serviced his Caterpillar customers with the tools and expertise of a brain surgeon.". Some of the memorable vessels he repaired were F/V American Eagle, F/V Barnegat, F/V Padre Pio, F/V Vito C, F/V Virginia Surf, F/V Alyssa and Andrew, F/V Lady Jane, F/V Orion, F/V Capt. Joe, and F/V Andrea Gail.
In 1977 he met the love of his life, Helen, and they settled into a life that included meals at the Cupboard or Union Hill Coffee House, activities with their family, season tickets to the North Shore Music Theater, and moving to Lanesville. At 50 he got his private pilots license and especially enjoyed sharing the flying experience with anyone who wanted to soar with him. At 56. He delighted in becoming a father for the seventh time. He loved taking his son Jay on flying lunch excursions to Tewksbury, Sanford, ME and various air shows.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his son, Michael H. Chandanais, his siblings and their spouses, Jeanette and Elston Murphy, Robert and Ann Chandanais, Doris and Arthur Paul, Claire and Jack Magnum, sister-in-law Regina Chandanais, brother-in-law Al Ponte, sister-in-law Natalie Desmarais, and niece and godchild Rachael Chandanais. He was also predeceased by his mother-in-law Mary L. Wilkins, his father-in-law Walter L. Wilkins, his sister-in-law Theresa A. Wilkins, brother-in-law Walter A. "Butch" Wilkins, his former in-laws Margaret and Harold Miller and his step-father Hector Desmarais.
Ray is survived by his beloved wife Helen, their son John A. "Jay" Chandanais and also his children and their spouses Cynthia and Steve Wajda, Randall Chandanais, Susan and John McIntyre, Michelle and Max.
Bles, Christine and Aaron Cebula, his daughter-in-law Hisako Chandanais, his brother Roger P. Chandanais, his sister-in-law Mary Ponte, and his step-brother Peter Desmarais. He is also survived by his in-laws, Mary and Lorenzo Delisi, John and Kathy Wilkins, and Josephine Wilkins. He also leaves behind 13 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren, with one more due in June, and many beloved nieces and nephews who regarded him as their favorite uncle.
Visiting hours in the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester will be held on Wednesday, January 19, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Relatives and friend are cordially invited to attend.
His Funeral Mass will be celebrated in Our Lady of Good Voyage Church, Holy Family Parish on Wednesday, January 19, at 11:30 a.m. The burial will follow in Beechbrook Cemetery, West Gloucester.
