Rene J. Masse

Rene Joseph “Ray” Masse, a resident of Norwood for 65 years, died Thursday, May 30, 2013 at the Ellis Nursing Home in Norwood, Massachusetts.  He was 98.  Ray was born April 26, 1915 in Reading, Massachusetts, a son of Louis and Adele (Dumoullin) Masse.  Ray grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts, graduating from Brookline High School, and then with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Boston College with the Class of 1937.  He joined the US Army in 1944 and spent 20 months in the Pacific Theatre as a member of the 224th Ordnance Ammunition Renovation Company where he supervised the renovation of defective ammunition.  He was honorably discharged in 1946 and went to work at the Jamaica Plain Veteran’s Administration Hospital where he was the Chief Purchasing Agent for 25 years until his retirement in 1972.  Ray served as a Boy Scout Leader for Troop 43, which met at the United Church in Norwood, where he earned his Order of the Arrow Award.  He enjoyed reading, gardening, woodworking, and clock making.  Ray is survived by his wife, Sarah Veronica “Sally” (Lentini) Masse; his son Anthony J. Masse, and his wife Susan, of South Easton, MA; his two daughters, Marilyn L. Holman of Walpole, and Carolyn M. Servello, and her husband Victor, of Dedham; his five grandchildren, Johanna Cohen, and her husband Jonathan, Joshua Masse, Christina Dunham, Victor Servello Jr., and Gina Byrd, and her husband Tom; and his great grandson Aaden.  He was the brother of the late Gilbert Masse and the late Louise Lambree.  Visiting hours wil be held Sunday, June 2nd from 5 to 8 PM at the Folsom Funeral Home, 649 High Street, Westwood.  Relatives and friends will gather at the funeral home Monday at 9 AM and proceed to St. Denis Church, 157 Washington Street, Westwood for his Mass of Christian Burial at 10 o’clock.  Interment with military honors will be in the National Cemetery at Bourne on Tuesday at 1:45 PM.  Donations in Ray’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association of MA/NH, 480 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472 would be appreciated.