WELLS—Oswald A. “Ozzie” Bourque, Sr., 92, of Wells, formerly of Waltham, Massachusetts, died Friday morning, Nov. 18, 2016 at his residence.

The last surviving of 17 children of Hypolite and Rosanna (Donelle) Bourque, he was born in Calhouns, New Brunswick, Canada on March 10, 1924. He grew up in New Brunswick, and was drafted into the Canadian Army in 1943, serving as a cook in Canada and the United Kingdom before returning home at the war’s end.

Upon his return from World War II, he married the love of his life, Lorraine Marie Belliveau, a marriage that spanned an amazing 64 years until her death in 2010. Ozzie and Lorraine were genuine soul mates and tireless workers. Ozzie was a conductor for the Canadian National Railway for seven years, and together they owned and operated the Dieppe Cash and Carry convenience store in Dieppe, New Brunswick. He also worked at a dairy farm where he pasteurized milk.

Sponsored by his Uncle Pat, he and Lorraine immigrated to the United States in 1953, settling in Waltham, Massachusetts. Desiring to become a carpenter, he walked onto a job site and asked to learn the trade. He became a master carpenter and, by 1958, started his own business, employing a staff of 22. After summering in Maine for several years, Ozzie and Lorraine purchased their house in 1971 on Littlefield Road in Wells, moving there permanently in 1974. He also purchased and managed several rental properties, enabling him to retire in 1986 at the age of 62.

With his talents as a carpenter, Ozzie fixed anything and everything around the house that needed repairing; even if it was beyond repair, he would still repair it. He was a very hard worker, instilling this trait in all his children. He loved gardening and taking care of all his properties. He practiced his Catholic faith openly, praying the Rosary and watching Mass on television every day.

In addition to his loving wife Lorraine, Ozzie is predeceased by a daughter, Judith Marie Tice; his 16 siblings and their spouses: Emile and Yvonne (Leger) Bourque, Albert and Ella (LeBlanc) Bourque, Lucie (Bourque) and Eric Leger, Alma Bourque, Raoul Bourque, Leo and Amelia (Vautour) Bourque, Corinne (Bourque) and Edward Leblanc, Adelard and Doris (Peacock) Bourque, Catherine Bourque, Marie Bourque, Alida (Bourque) and Elsie Saulnier, Gerard and Alice (LeBlanc) Bourque, Paul and Doris (Dow) Bourque, Valerie and Shirley Bourque, Aldore and June Bourque, and Joseph Bourque.

Survivors include five children, daughters Wanda Marie Herd of Wells, Phyllis Marie Patterson and husband Phillip of Saco, ME; sons David Joseph Bourque and wife Diane of Biddeford, ME, Oswald Bourque, Jr., and wife Marlene of York, ME, Claude Joseph Bourque and wife Suzanne of Wells; 11 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visiting hours will be on Friday, Dec. 2, 2016 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Bibber Memorial Chapel, 111 Chapel Road, Wells. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016 at 11 a.m. at Holy Spirit Parish/St. Mary’s Church, 236 Eldridge Road, Wells. Burial will follow in Ocean View Cemetery, Wells.

Memorial donations in his name are encouraged to his favorite charity, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Ozzie’s Book of Memories Page at www.bibberfuneral.com.

Arrangements are in care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 111 Chapel Road, PO Box 910, Wells, ME 04090.