Ethel
Ethel Marie "Sue" Charbonneau
d. July 26, 2008
Ethel Marie Charbonneau (Santora)
Ethel Marie Charbonneau (Santora) who was best known as "Washboard Sue" died Saturday (July 26th, 2008) at Kindred Hospital North East in Natick, Ma. after a long illness at the age of 83 years of age.
Mrs. Charbonneau was born the youngest child of John and Phoebe Santora on June 11th, 1925 in Marlborough MA and was a 40+ year resident there. Mrs. Charbonneau was preceded in death by her parents as well as by her older siblings Florence Laurie formerly of Millbury, Ma & Raymond Fitzpatrick formerly of Worcester, Ma as well as by her husband and soul mate of 44 years, Leo V. Charbonneau who passed away in 1990.
Survivors include daughters and spouses Lorraine Mangual of Marlborough, Ma. Linda Charbonneau-Saari also of Marlboro, Ma. Lorna Felix of Sterling Ma, Elaine Derosier of Uxbridge, Ma and sons Leo Charbonneau also from Uxbridge, Ma and Leon Charbonneau of Ashburnham as well as her niece, Evelyn Jagelski of Millbury Ma. These in addition to several son-in-laws, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren.
While Mrs. Charbonneau primary passion and pride was taken in her family she seemed most happy though when she was part of organizations that represented her pride in her country and their charitable like the Amvets Post 208 and VFW Manning Post in Hudson, Ma for which she like her beloved husband Leo where Lifetime members and for which she served as a past President of Ladies Auxiliary, Chaplin & Public Relations Officer, Past District 5 Auxiliary President and as a key member of the Amvets National Auxiliary "Sad Sackettes" charity efforts. And while recognition was not her primary goal in being part of these efforts she was nevertheless accorded the high honor of an Amvets State Pilgrims Award for Americanism in the early 1980's.
If pride in family and country where at the top of her list of loves than "Washboard Sue" must have kept two lists as her other true love revolved around her never absent Washboard and Spoon which she picked up and never put down in 1965. While she always remarked that her favorite kind of music might have been the Big Band Swing but that her absolute favorite song was always "It's a Grand Old Flag" In addition to her charitable entertaining "Washboard Sue also found time to be a member of the International Washboard Players and for many years she was called to perform
Along with other members of this prestigious group at the Connecticut Festival Jazz Band
Her love of people and ability to make people smile and sing was so infectious that many a local radio and television personality called on her to take part in many different events and fundraisers. Performing and charming attendees at events like the yearly WBZ Picnic
With Dave Maynard whom she considered a close friend for which the money raised went to the Boston Children's Hospital. This as well as being thrilled to have been asked to play along side people like "Willie Whistle", The Black Eagle Jazz Band and The Harmonica Rascals. Mrs. Charbonneau also considered it an honor and responsibility to have had the opportunity for to play "Santa Sue" Claus for many years at area nursing homes & Veterans Hospitals, Disabled American Veterans Hospitals from all across the state and region with Amvets Post 208 and as part of the regions local and Boston holiday parades with her Washboard and many Flags in tow.
A funeral mass will be celebrated Thursday, July 31, at 11:00 a.m. in Saint Michael's Church, 21 Manning St. Hudson. Burial will follow in Saint Mary's Cemetery, Marlboro. Calling hours will be held Wednesday, July 30 from 4 to 8 P.M. at the Tighe-Hamilton Funeral Home, Inc. 50 Central St. Hudson, MA 01749.
Charitable donations in Mrs. Charbonneau's honor can be made to the: Ethel Marie Charbonneau Memorial Scholarship Fund; Send to: Leo Charbonneau, 26 Fisher Street, Uxbridge, MA 01569
Ethel Marie Charbonneau (Santora) who was best known as "Washboard Sue" died Saturday (July 26th, 2008) at Kindred Hospital North East in Natick, Ma. after a long illness at the age of 83 years of age.
Mrs. Charbonneau was born the youngest child of John and Phoebe Santora on June 11th, 1925 in Marlborough MA and was a 40+ year resident there. Mrs. Charbonneau was preceded in death by her parents as well as by her older siblings Florence Laurie formerly of Millbury, Ma & Raymond Fitzpatrick formerly of Worcester, Ma as well as by her husband and soul mate of 44 years, Leo V. Charbonneau who passed away in 1990.
Survivors include daughters and spouses Lorraine Mangual of Marlborough, Ma. Linda Charbonneau-Saari also of Marlboro, Ma. Lorna Felix of Sterling Ma, Elaine Derosier of Uxbridge, Ma and sons Leo Charbonneau also from Uxbridge, Ma and Leon Charbonneau of Ashburnham as well as her niece, Evelyn Jagelski of Millbury Ma. These in addition to several son-in-laws, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren.
While Mrs. Charbonneau primary passion and pride was taken in her family she seemed most happy though when she was part of organizations that represented her pride in her country and their charitable like the Amvets Post 208 and VFW Manning Post in Hudson, Ma for which she like her beloved husband Leo where Lifetime members and for which she served as a past President of Ladies Auxiliary, Chaplin & Public Relations Officer, Past District 5 Auxiliary President and as a key member of the Amvets National Auxiliary "Sad Sackettes" charity efforts. And while recognition was not her primary goal in being part of these efforts she was nevertheless accorded the high honor of an Amvets State Pilgrims Award for Americanism in the early 1980's.
If pride in family and country where at the top of her list of loves than "Washboard Sue" must have kept two lists as her other true love revolved around her never absent Washboard and Spoon which she picked up and never put down in 1965. While she always remarked that her favorite kind of music might have been the Big Band Swing but that her absolute favorite song was always "It's a Grand Old Flag" In addition to her charitable entertaining "Washboard Sue also found time to be a member of the International Washboard Players and for many years she was called to perform
Along with other members of this prestigious group at the Connecticut Festival Jazz Band
Her love of people and ability to make people smile and sing was so infectious that many a local radio and television personality called on her to take part in many different events and fundraisers. Performing and charming attendees at events like the yearly WBZ Picnic
With Dave Maynard whom she considered a close friend for which the money raised went to the Boston Children's Hospital. This as well as being thrilled to have been asked to play along side people like "Willie Whistle", The Black Eagle Jazz Band and The Harmonica Rascals. Mrs. Charbonneau also considered it an honor and responsibility to have had the opportunity for to play "Santa Sue" Claus for many years at area nursing homes & Veterans Hospitals, Disabled American Veterans Hospitals from all across the state and region with Amvets Post 208 and as part of the regions local and Boston holiday parades with her Washboard and many Flags in tow.
A funeral mass will be celebrated Thursday, July 31, at 11:00 a.m. in Saint Michael's Church, 21 Manning St. Hudson. Burial will follow in Saint Mary's Cemetery, Marlboro. Calling hours will be held Wednesday, July 30 from 4 to 8 P.M. at the Tighe-Hamilton Funeral Home, Inc. 50 Central St. Hudson, MA 01749.
Charitable donations in Mrs. Charbonneau's honor can be made to the: Ethel Marie Charbonneau Memorial Scholarship Fund; Send to: Leo Charbonneau, 26 Fisher Street, Uxbridge, MA 01569
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