J. Bernard Leclerc

Joseph Bernard "Ben" Leclerc, 89, of Sanford, died on Friday, May 12, 2017 at Seal Rock Health Care Center in Saco following a brief illness.Ben was born on May 4, 1928 to Raphael and Diana (Roy) Leclerc in Sanford where he grew up and attended local schools, graduating from St. Ignatius High School. Following high school he earned his Bachelor's degree in Business at St. Michael's College. He attended college with his brother Gil where they were they were known as the "Leclerc twins" even though they were 10 months apart in age. After graduating from St. Michael's he attended law school for one year at Boston College. Ben proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. In 1953 he married Rita Doiron and together they shared 63 years of marriage and raised three wonderful daughters. He was employed as a supervisor in the computer department at General Electric for 36 years before retiring in 1988.Ben enjoyed wintering in Florida for 23 years with his wife Rita. He loved spending time at their family beach house "The Hi Wind," in Wells. Family cookouts and lobster feeds were some of Ben's favorite moments. He also loved getting out on the golf course with his brother Gil. He was a devout Catholic and had been a communicant of St. Therse of Lisieux Parish. Ben will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother and will be dearly missed. Ben was predeceased by two grandchildren, Alex Caras and Damien Horgan and by two siblings, Leo Leclerc and Lucille Kellett.Surviving are his wife, Rita Leclerc of Sanford; three daughters, Nancy Horgan and her husband Steve of Scarborough, Denise Bougie and her husband Ron of Sanford and Laurie Caras and her husband Nick of Saco; seven grandchildren, Kevin, Amanda and Bethany Bougie, Andrew and Katrina Horgan and William and Ben Caras, two great-grandchildren, Makai and Quinton Bougie and two siblings, Gilbert Leclerc and his wife Lucille and Jeannine Landry.A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:00 AM on Saturday, May 20th at St. Therse of Lisieux Parish, Holy Family Church located on North Avenue in Sanford. Interment with military honors will follow at St. Ignatius Cemetery. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider sending a memorial contribution to the Edmundite Missions, PO Box 2114, Selma, AZ 36702-2114, or online at www.EdmuniteMissions.org.Arrangements are under the direction of Black Funeral Homes and Cremation Service, Sanford-Springvale.To leave a message of condolence for the family please click on the condolences tab to the left.