Roderick Eugene Vincelette

Roderick Eugene Vincelette, 91, of South Windham, passed away Sunday evening December 11, 2011 at Windham Hospital in Willimantic, Connecticut surrounded by his family. Rod was the son of the late Joseph and Mary (Bourey) Vincelette, born at home on Hope Street in Willimantic, Connecticut on January 24, 1920. He married Vera (Terry) Vincelette on September 3rd , 1943 in St. Joseph Church in Willimantic. Vera predeceased him on June 24, 1997 after 53 years of marriage. Rod became interested in music as a young boy and started a harmonica band with a group of boys from his neighborhood. He wanted to learn to play drums so he could march in the parades. His Uncle Barney who was a top notch drummer taught Rod how to play drums. Over the years, Rod became proficient enough at drumming to teach kids who wanted to learn to play in their school bands or in drum corps. This led to jobs teaching both drill and drumming to drum corps all over the New England area. Rod spent many years teaching groups such as St. Mary's Drum Corps, The Willimantic Cadets, and the Norwich Fletcher Raiders to name a few. Rod was also one of the major organizers of the 1975 Elks parade, the 1976 Bicentennial parade, Willimantic's 250th Anniversary parade, and Windham's 300th Anniversary parade. He was also an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox, the UConn Women's Basketball Team, and the New England Patriots. Rod started working at age 16 in the American Thread Company in Willimantic. He joined the U.S. National Guard in 1938 and received his honorable discharge in 1941. He then went to work for Pratt & Whitney in Willimantic and then in East Hartford when the plant moved there. He took a job at the Electro-Motive in Willimantic where he became a supervisor in the cutting department and worked there for over 26 years before the company moved South. He then worked for Cape-Hart in Norwich, Connecticut until he came back to Willimantic to work at Bran-Rex from which he retired the first time at age 62. After playing golf for a while a friend talked him into driving school bus for Mansfield. He then retired a second time at age 85 after driving school bus for over 20 years, Rod leaves two daughters , Barbara and her husband Ernest Laliberte with whom he made his home in South Windham, and Jacqueline Vincelette of Windham, five grand-children, Peter Pekarovic and his wife Dawn of Coventry, Michael Pekarovic and his wife Rebecca of Windham, Elisha Currier and her husband James of Willimantic, Jennifer Laliberte and her beau Keith Dauplaise of Norwich, and Robin Laliberte and her beau John Pourciau of North Windham. He also leaves three great grandchildren, Paul Demers, Ashley Pekarovic, and Emma Pekarovic, a niece Rosita Rodriquez of New Orleans, a sister in law Marge Vincelette of Chicago and many cousins, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grandnephews from Connecticut, Illinois, and Louisiana. There will be no calling hours. Friends and family are welcome to attend his Funeral Mass at St. Joseph Church 99 Jackson Street Willimantic at 10:00am on Thursday Dec. 15th followed by a Christian burial in New Willimantic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family asks any donations be made to St. Joseph Church, 99 Jackson Street, Willimantic, Connecticut 06226. For an online memorial guestbook, please visit www.potterfuneralhome.com .