Leonel Lesperance

Leonel Lesperance, 88, of Acton, died June 10 at the Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough, where he was known as Mr. Smiley.He was born in Springvale on June 24, 1922, the son of Origene and Marianne (Plamondon) Lesperance.He was an Army veteran of World War II attaining the rank of Sergeant with the C-53 Antiaircraft Replacement Training Battalion stationed in Newfoundland.After the war, he returned home and married the love of his life, Marguerite Gagne, on May 18, 1946. They loved to travel together and spent many hours attending the sports events of their daughters and grandchildren. They built camps on Silver Lake and Province Lake and built their home on Mousam Lake in Acton.Leonel was employed with several shoe shops over the years. He worked in Rochester and as a supervisor for Allied Shoe and Universal Shoe in Sanford-Springvale.An active member of the Knights of Columbus, he was a 50+ years member of the Springvale council, a member of the 4th degree council, served as Past Grand Knight, District Deputy, and was a member of their singing group, the Columbians. He was also a charter member of the VFW post in Sanford.Leonel spent countless hours in his boats pulling his daughters and their friends on their water skis. He also liked to water ski himself, an activity he enjoyed up into his 70's. He liked playing Frisbee and horseshoes and also enjoyed doing wood crafts, especially when he was making projects for his grandchildren. Leonel loved singing and dancing. He spent many wonderful nights with his friends at Silver Lake, singing on Friday and spending Saturday nights around the camp fire.Leonel thoroughly enjoyed hosting chicken BBQs, pig roasts and beanhole beans parties. He also professionally hosted chicken BBQs with his friend Paul and his son-in-law Dick, including an event that they put on for over 600 people. He will be remembered as a kind and loving man with a wonderful smile and will be dearly missed by his family and friends.Leonel was predeceased by his wife, Marguerite in 2006, a sister, Jeanne and a brother Paul.Surviving are two daughters, Sylvia Payeur and her husband Dick of Westbrook and Susan Dunfey of York; four grandchildren, Erica Payeur Hranicka and her husband Phillip of Portland, OR; Keri Payeur Ver Planck and her husband Andrew of Greenwich, CT; Rob Dunfey of San Diego, CA and Jessica Dunfey of Boston, MA and one great-great grandchild, Bradley Ver Planck of Greenwich, CT.Visitation will be held on Monday, June 13th from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main Street in Springvale. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, June 14th at St. Therse of Lisieux Parish, Notre Dame Church located on Payne Street in Springvale. Interment will be at Notre Dame Cemetery in Springvale.The family wishes to express their gratitude to the staff of the Maine Veterans Home in Scarborough for the loving and compassionate care given to Leo during his short stay.Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Alzheimer's Association, 170 US Route 1, Suite 250, Falmouth, ME 04105 or the Maine Veterans' Home, 290 US Route 1, Scarborough, Maine 04074.To leave a message of condolence for the family please click on the condolences tab to the left.