Leonard “Bud” Francoeur of Chelmsford, MA

Leonard “Bud” Francoeur, 93, of Chelmsford, MA died surrounded by his family on February 2, 2025 at Lowell General Hospital. He was the beloved husband of the late Eileen (McNamara) Francoeur who died in 2009.

A man of great faith, Bud was a devoted communicant of St. John the Evangelist Church in North Chelmsford where he was a leader and a teacher in the religious education program when his children were young.

Prior to his retirement, Bud worked as a Purchasing Manager at Itek Optical Systems in Lexington, MA for over 30 years. In his retirement, he volunteered at D’Youville Senior Care and House of Hope in Lowell.

Bud was an avid golfer and shared his love of the game with his family, launching multiple generations of golfers. His other life-long passion was hockey.  He played hockey throughout his life and was a leader and a coach in the Chelmsford Hockey Association.  When his family was young, each winter, he set up a large skating rink in the backyard complete with lights and hockey nets, creating years of wonderful memories.

Bud enjoyed watching the Bruins, exercising, and meeting up with friends at the UMass Lowell Recreational Center. Bud was a frequent patron of Fishbone’s Restaurant in Chelmsford. But most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When he was unable to be with the family, he felt present by viewing hundreds of photographs sent to his Skylight viewer.

In his later years, many people cared for Bud, which allowed him to stay in his own home until his passing. We’d like to especially thank his caregiver, Joyce Osei, for her dedication, love, and support of Bud over the last 2 years.

Bud is survived by his seven children, Paul and his wife Deborah (Durkin) Francoeur of Lowell, MA, Anne and her husband Dave Landry of Essex, MA, Joan and her husband William Gale of Jamestown, RI, Kevin and his wife Missy (Wallace) Francoeur of Chelmsford, MA, Robert and his husband Robert Perez of San Francisco, CA, Thomas and his wife Maria Dolorico of Boston, MA, and David and his wife Kristin (Fisher) Francoeur of Manchester-By-The-Sea, MA, seventeen grandchildren, and nineteen great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his two sisters and their husbands, Claire and Jimmy Curry, and Jeanne and Larry MacDonald.

Visiting hours will be held on Friday, February 7, 2025 from 4-7PM at DOLAN FUNERAL HOME 106 MIDDLESEX ST, N. CHELMSFORD, MA 01863.  Funeral will begin on Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 10 AM from the funeral home, followed by his funeral Mass at 11 AM at St John the Evangelist Church, 115 Middlesex St., N. Chelmsford, MA. His burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery, North Chelmsford, MA. 

As an expression of sympathy, donations may be made in Bud’s memory to the House of Hope, 812 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA, www.houseofhopelowell.org/donate

ARRANGEMENTS BY DOLAN FUNERAL HOME 978-251-4041. Guestbook at www.dolanfuneralhome.com