Frank Michael Chetelat, Jr.

Frank Michael Chetelat, Jr. – Methuen, MA

In the early morning hours of Sunday, October 18th, Frank Michael Chetelat, Jr. lost a long, fierce battle with a vicious infection at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. Frank was born on October 14th, 1947 in Connecticut. He was a man of faith and science who worked hard to accomplish any goal set before him. Sir Ernest Shackleton was always a hero of his, and from a young age Frank lived a life consistent with the Shackleton family motto, “by endurance we conquer”. He both endured and conquered much in his 73 years on earth.

To any who knew him, it will be no surprise that he came from a classic New England working class background, a second-generation descendant of immigrants. As a young man, he worked in tobacco fields alongside his brother, then at the family butcher shop and later as a meat packer. He ran cross country at East Catholic High School and Clarkson University before proudly serving as a Marine from 1968-1972. During this time, he fell for a California flower(ish) child. They married on August 12th, 1972 after a cross-country courtship. She dubbed him her “each to own” and held his love for nearly 50 years. After leaving the service, he received a bachelor's degree in computer science and engineering from UConn, and later continued his education at UMass Lowell while working as a software engineer. His career with AT&T (Western Electric/Bell Labs/Lucent) lasted for nearly 30 years, and he became the world expert in the products he supported; as a result, when phone lines in New York needed to be restored following September 11th, he was the man for the job. He was an active member of the Church where he served as a deacon for three decades. He was a loving and involved father who taught his children responsibility, compassion...and basketball, coaching all of them in various sports over the years. He was an avid Red Sox fan and spent 56 years of disappointment holding steadfastly to the belief that they would win again. He consumed knowledge like most do water. It is likely he read as many books as all of his children combined, from epic fantasy to the driest manuals and textbooks, on a wide variety of topics. He was passionate about all aspects of his garden, which included vegetables, flowers and his beloved compost pile. Now, having run with endurance the race set before him, he has left his earthly body for his ultimate conquest: to celebrate in eternity with his Heavenly Father.

He is survived by his wife, Janice, his brother Daniel and sister-in-law Diana, his five children: Steven and wife Jensie, Michal and husband Victor Moyer, Justin, Nathaniel and wife Charlene, and Mary, and eleven much beloved grandchildren: Peter, Andrew, Faithlyn, Philip, James, Simon, Aeryn, Carys, Søren, Aurora, and Gillian, as well as his nieces Carrie Anne and Christina.

Out of respect for our family and friends with serious health conditions, and in consideration of the State mandate, we ask that you honor the request that masks be worn inside the funeral home by all who attend calling hours or the Memorial Service, Thank you.

Calling Hours are Saturday October 31, 2020 from 12 PM – 2 PM at Dewhirst & Boles Funeral Home, 80 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844.  A Memorial Service will follow the calling hours at the funeral home at 2:00 PM.  Please visit www.dewhirstbolesfuneral.com for directions or to sign the online guest book.

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