1-(978) 521-4845
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486 Main Street, Haverhill, Massachusetts 01830

James E. Lagasse November 6, 1930 - February 10, 2022

Date of Funeral

February 22, 2022

Haverhill – James E. Lagasse, 91, husband of Marie R. (Collette) Lagasse, passed away February 10 at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Haverhill, he was the son of the late Albert J. and Lillian (Everett) Lagasse. He was a graduate of Haverhill Trade School, Class of 1950. James worked as an auto body repairman for McGregor-Smith Motor Company for 25 years. He also taught auto body at Whittier Vo-Tech for 20 years. After he retired, he worked at Riverside Park for the City of Haverhill. James enjoyed skiing, loved to attend car races and was an avid carver of birds, flowers and carousel horses. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather who will be missed by all who knew and loved him.

In addition to his loving wife, James is survived by his children, Susan Lagasse of Haverhill, James A. “Jimmy” Lagasse of Haverhill and John Lagasse and his wife Anne of Newbury; nine grandchildren, Sarah, Jill, Jennifer, Emily, Abagail, Shannon, Amber, Heidi and Corey; nine great grandchildren, Julian, Alexander, Cristian, Niesen, Matthew, Lucas, Elizabeth, Isla and Louis; one great great grandchild, Aurora; a sister, Joan Veroneau; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his siblings and spouses, Joseph and Laura Lagasse, George and Betty Lagasse, Everett and Nancy Lagasse, Marion and Eugene Sullivan, Rita and Thomas Galvin and brother in law Kenneth Veroneau.

Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend a calling hours on Monday, February 21 from 4:00PM until 7:00PM at the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main St., Haverhill. Funeral services will begin on Tuesday morning at 10:00AM in the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00AM in St. James Church, Winter St., Haverhill. The family would like to thank Compassus Hospice for their wonderful care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Liz Murphy Open Hand Pantry, 6 Cottage St., Haverhill, MA 01830. Please visit Comeau Funeral Home on Facebook or www.comeaufuneral.com

Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend a calling hours on Monday, February 21 from 4:00PM until 7:00PM at the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main St., Haverhill. Funeral services will begin on Tuesday morning at 10:00AM in the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00AM in St. James Church, Winter St., Haverhill. The family would like to thank Compassus Hospice for their wonderful care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Liz Murphy Open Hand Pantry, 6 Cottage St., Haverhill, MA 01830. Please visit Comeau Funeral Home on Facebook or www.comeaufuneral.com

Condolences(10)

  1. Dennis and Ellen Demeritt says
    February 14, 2022 at 4:43 pm

    A true gentleman and gentle man. It was a pleasure to know him and work with him.
    Our heartfelt sympathies to all of you.

  2. Janice and Lorne Tandy says
    February 14, 2022 at 7:22 pm

    A golden heart has stopped beating, but a heart that has touched so many lives can’t help but live on in those it loved. I believe that tears can heal, memories can comfort and love lives forever.
    Please accept our most heartfelt condolences.

  3. Mark Lagasse says
    February 15, 2022 at 12:55 pm

    Uncle Jim,
    To think of all of the things you taught us when we were kids. Painting, body work, working on off road vehicles. Taking us all snowmobiling, out on dirt bikes, and camping. Camping in your famous buses with bunks labeled “Road Runner” You will be deeply missed. To know you was to love you. Even after your passing you are still helping people at the Food Pantry. Always a helper, teacher, and fond to all who knew you. A donation will be made in your name to Liz Murphy Open Hand Pantry. You will be missed.

  4. Dina Buccieri says
    February 15, 2022 at 6:17 pm

    Deer soup, Mark and I are so sorry for your loss. Our deepest condolences go out to you and your whole family. I hope that you find the coming weeks to be gentle on your soul as you begin to live life without your dad

  5. Suzanne Boulay says
    February 15, 2022 at 7:31 pm

    Dear Marie and family, I am so sorry for your loss. I have such nice memories of Jimmy, and I’m sure many people will remember him with love. He was lucky to have such a nice family – all of you meant so much to him. I am thinking of you and sending good thoughts to all of you, as well as my sincere prayers for Jim.
    Suzanne Lagasse Boulay

  6. Milton H Taylor says
    February 16, 2022 at 1:26 pm

    To the Lagasse Family,

    My Sincerest Condolences may Jim RIP.

  7. Mary Beth (Raymond) Owens says
    February 16, 2022 at 11:41 pm

    So sorry for your loss. He was just amazing.

  8. Anonymous says
    February 18, 2022 at 2:38 am

    My Uncle Jim was the trickster in the family, the guy always playing jokes with that Lagassse twinkle in his eyes. He took me to my first demolition derby at a local racetrack when I was 7. He let me try out a snowmobile when I was still too young to get the hang of driving it. He was the opposite of my quiet, introverted, MIT-engineer dad, and I loved him for showing me different ways to approach life and the world.

    When I retired at age 63, after surviving cancer, I rode my bicycle across country from the farthest Northwestern corner of the 48 contiguous states in Washington to the farthest Northeastern corner at the West Quoddy Head Lighthouse in Lubec, Maine. I stopped by to see Jim and Marie at the Lagasse family homestead, who put me up for the night in the house my mom, RIta, grew up in, and took me that night to a Lagasse cook-out with many people I either didn’t remember or never met. They all knew me as “Rita’s son,” which was an honor since they all loved my mom, Rita Lagasse Galvin. Jim took me down by the river at the Newburyport property to enjoy a few minutes of quite time together by the Merrimack River. Lovely memories, indeed.

    I extend my love for Jim Lagasse to his family, and my thoughts for this wonderful Uncle I had the privilege to know. Decades later, his love-for-life, impish spirit still inspires me. I love you all, this wonderful Lagasse clan.

    — Dave Galvin, Seattle, WA

  9. Dave Smith says
    February 19, 2022 at 11:16 pm

    Some of my fondest memories as a teenager were working in Jim’s garage prepping cars for body work, or a new paint job. To this day, the smell of paint thinner or bondo puts me right back in his garage. The memories of driving the “red egg” around in the woods, or the Lagasse haunted trail walks always bring a smile and a warm heart.
    My sincere condolences to Marie and the Lagasse family. He was a wonderful man and it was an honor to have been taken under his wing. RIP Jim.

  10. John Chasse says
    February 22, 2022 at 2:50 pm

    A true gentleman. Absolutely the most talented individual I know. An absolute pleasure to work with. I’m sorry I couldn’t make the service due to health issue. Jim and his family are in my thoughts and prayers.

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