The funeral of Donald Lynn Tetrault, 69, of Wimauma, Florida is scheduled for Friday, May 8, 2015. The service is at 11:00AM at the Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Sun City Center, FL with Father Augustine to officiate. Graveside services are Friday afternoon at 3:00PM at Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Road 72, Sarasota, Florida 34241 with the US Navy Honors and Ceremonial Funeral Team and the Veterans of Foreign War Post 3233, officiating.
A native of Springfield, MA, Donald was a local resident of Wimauma, Florida since relocating in 2012 from Thorndike, MA. He enjoyed listening to music and attending various car shows and races as he was an automobile aficionado. Not only was Don an avid traveler of the United States with his companion, Carol Cassani, he was also fascinated by meteorology and followed dynamic weather changes. He loved attending the annual balloon festival in Albuquerque, NM as he had an affinity for the Southwest. He was a proud father and adored his two children keeping up daily with their continued accomplishments despite their geographical distance.
He retired as Head of Transportation for Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing from 1995 thru 2012 where his outgoing personality made life more enjoyable for the independent, assisted living, and memory impaired residents. He was responsible for planning scenic trips, coordinating doctor appointments, and transporting residents to off-campus social events. While he was employed at Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing, he also delivered medical supplies for Apria Healthcare to homebound patients. From 1979-1995, Don worked for Consolidated Precast Inc. as a cement finisher traveling to all parts of the Northeast. His prior employers included Art Cement, Hamilton Standard, and Pratt & Whitney.
Don was a US Navy veteran of the Vietnam War from 1964-1968. During his US Navy career, he was stationed at Moffett Field in CA and deployed to Manila, Philippines. He was promoted to the rank of AD as an aviation machinist and was awarded the United Nations Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Preceded in death by his father, Napoleon Tetrault; Donald is survived by his companion and care giver, Carol Cassani of Wimauma, Florida and his family; a son, Maximilian Tetrault of Chicopee, MA; a daughter, Alexi Tetrault of Washington, DC; his mother, Annette Tetrault of Felton, Delaware; two brothers, Joseph Tetrault (Jo Anne P.) of Lincoln, Delaware and David Tetrault (Christina Mia) of Felton, Delaware; and two sisters, Maria Tetrault of Felton, Delaware and Susan Sullivan (John J. III) of Hollis Center, Maine. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews as well as two grand-nephews.
Veterans Funeral Care
My condolences go out to his family during this time. May his memories fill their hearts with joy as they continue to persevere through life. Many blessings to the Family and Friends of Donald Tetrault!
Max, So sorry for your loss. I can tell he was a good man and father. His memories and influence will always be with you. Chris
Max,
We are so sorry for your loss. You and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers through this difficult time. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call us. Like I said before, our home is always open to you. We love you!
Karen & Zachary Miller
Max, your dad did many great things in this world.He is now resting and no longer in pain. He will keep you, your sister and family protected at all times since he is now your guardian angel. I am sorry for your loss. His memories will live on forever. He
Our deepest sympathy and sincere condolences during your time of loss.
Darrell & Christine Katz
So sorry for your loss. Our condolences go out to the family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time.
To all of you i am so sorry for your loss. Donnie was a very wonderful guy, I have so many special memories of him and all of you that to this day I hold very close in my heart and prayers. May God bless, love always.
We were Donald’s insurance agents. Don was one of our best clients. He always had a smile when he came into our office. We had some wonderful conversations over the many years that he was insured with us. What an amazing, up-beat person he was! He will be truly missed. We will be praying for the family, that the Lord will surround you with His love, and comfort you in this loss.
Lynne & Wayne
Max – I remember meeting Don at Mark’s Cruise and the big grin he wore when you introduced him as your father. He was obviously very proud of you. The lessons he taught you and the person he helped mold you into will serve as a testament to the great man he was, and the great person you are. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
TRP
Max,
I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family during this difficult time. May all the happy memories remain with you and help you heal. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you need anything.
Emily
Earth has no sorrow, Heaven cannot heal.
Donald was a nice co-worker. He will be missed.
Miss you Carol
Carol,
Gloria called me and told me abut Don’s death. Bill and I were so sorry to hear that news. We, as did many of us from Reeds Landing, enjoyed Don a lot and had many conversations with him as he drove us various places. I had the staff put a rose on the mantle in remembrance of Don and I’ve talked to many who remember him fondly. I know he was so looking forward to being with you in Florida and your new house. Gloria had told me about seeing you two from time to time and said you were both very happy. Sorry it wasn’t longer for you both.
Donald, aka Weather Channel:
I am sure that “you can hear me now” as you must have great reception up there. As your brother-in-law, who was “from away”, as we say in Maine, we never had an opportunity to have a close relationship. You were in MA and we were up in ME; both were engrossed in our own families and employment, and for the most part it was family milestones and certain holidays that brought us together. Nevertheless, we always got along well and I cannot recall one cross word that was ever spoken between us despite the fact that you probably wondered many times why you ever allowed your sister to marry a ‘wood pup’.
Funny thing: your move, further away to FL, brought us closer together. Your telephone calls during winter were like clockwork. Whenever you called, and Susan picked up the telephone and said that you were on the other end, I immediately went out and gassed up the John Deere, confident that a snowstorm was on its way. Fortunately, you were a fellow retiree, and the telephone calls were always after 8:30 or 9:00 AM, knowing that the ‘non-working’ like to sleep in. You always seemed to know what our weather was going to be before our own local meteorologists did. Now, as I sit in Florida, at your computer, I see why. Your pop-up screen is all things weather. By the way, cheers for letting me use it.
Thanks to you, we were always early in line at the supermarket before each snow storm picking up a year’s supply of toilet paper, batteries, bottled water, and beer. For the other readers I would offer that this is a slight exaggeration as we always laughed at others doing this despite the fact that Maine does an excellent job of keeping its roads open. Nonetheless, if I were a teacher grading you, I would have to give you 100% for attendance as I do not think you ever missed a storm, not even a 6 inch or less dusting. That is, until this winter when you were under the weather, yourself, and unable to focus on your new career in retirement. Your absence made me be on my toes and vigilant.
I owe you this one last e-mail or posting as I made you a promise and intend to keep it. A few weeks ago you asked me for pictures of our last dwindling snow pile (the one out front that catches the snow that we blow snow to from 3 directions). You asked me to let you know when the last snow disappeared from our pile. I am sorry to let you down but I can only give you an approximation as Susan and I left beforehand to join your children, Max and Alexi, and your best ever friend Carol in Florida in their time of hurt, to help them sort things out and make final preparations. God apparently needed a good weather guy and promoted you to the big weather station in heaven. For the record, there was a pile approximately the size that a queen size sheet could cover when we left last Tuesday. My uneducated guess is that it disappeared Wednesday night into Thursday, but you knew that already.
I will miss you big guy and promise to take care of your sister as long as I am able to. Likewise, I will be there for Max, Alexi, Carol, and the rest of the family should they seek my input. I doubt that I will ever see a colorful Hawaiian shirt and not immediately think of you in yours, accompanied by shorts, and wicked white sneakers. I am proud that it was a picture, that I took of you and Max during a recent visit to ME, that ended up being cropped for your obituary and funeral pamphlet. Hopefully Max will continue those visits, Alexi too, and that when we go out in the back 50 and unload some lead, as we all did last time, we will surely be thinking of you. After the hardware has been safely stored, Max and I will raise an IPA in your honor. Likewise, when Max pins my ears back when he accelerates the Firepower/Horespower mobile, I will recall who planted the “car” seed in him.
Dear Carol,
May it comfort you to know many caring thoughts are with you at this sad time. May your memories soften the hurt in your heart.
Please keep in touch with the snowbirds up North.
With deep sympathy,
Love, Grace and Michael
I was one of Don’s best friends in the Navy. We were in VP 48. Both of us were mechanics We had a lot of good times together. Almost 3 1/2 years. Will always remember the time we got off the train at the wrong stop at night. We coming from herrosheima Japan. We had a heck of a time finding out where were, and the right train to catch. No one spoke English. So many good memories. I was surprised when Don called me last year. After so many years, we had a lot to talk about. We connected a few times since that time. I was trying to contact Don today, and found out he had passed way. So long buddy. Stan