Francis Joseph Bettencourt
Commander Portuguese American Veterans, Purple Heart and Bronze Star Receipient
LOWELL Francis Joseph ‘Frank’ Bettencourt, 91, of Dracut, died Friday, June 3, 2011 after a brief illness. He was the husband of the late Adeline M. (Bettencourt) Bettencourt who passed away in April of last year.
Born January 4, 1920, in Lowell, he was the youngest son of the late Verissimo Bettencourt, and the late Guiomar (Silva) Bettencourt, and received his education through the Lowell schools.
Mr. Bettencourt served with the United States Army during World War II and was a decorated WWII Veteran earning a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star, among many other medals, for injuries sustained in Italy.
He returned from the war making his home in Lawrence and also lived in Chelmsford, West Palm Beach, FL, Merrimac, MA and Dracut. After the passing of his wife Adeline, he lived with his daughter and her husband in Tyngsboro. He was a former member of St. Anthony’s Parish for many years and more recently was a communicant of St. Mary Magdalen Church in Dracut.
Frank served proudly as the Commander of the Portuguese American Veterans from 1995 to 2005. He was a Life Member of the Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 662, Walker Rogers, as well as a Life Member of the Edith N. Rogers Disabled American Veterans’ Post 25. He was previously a member of the Lions Club in Dracut and a member of the Chelmsford Elks B.P.O.E.#2310. He was an avid bowler and longtime senior league bowler at Brunswick Bowling lanes in Lowell. He loved playing his harmonica and electric keyboard and sang in St. Anthony’s Church Choir and enjoyed singing at various family functions. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and really enjoyed dinners out with his wife and family, especially at Vic's Waffle House where he felt like family.
After his return from WWII, Mr. Bettencourt worked at the Mills in Lawrence. He then was the owner of Alpine Painting for over twenty years, and had retired from the machine shop at Avco of Wilmington, MA. He had also worked as a security guard at Sanders Associates.
His survivors include his daughters, Judith M. Allaby and her husband, Kenneth, of The Villages, FL, and Brenda A. Beaudoin and her husband, Ronald, of Tyngsboro; his grandchildren Francis A. Beaudoin of Dracut, Aaron J. Beaudoin and his wife, Kerri, of Hudson, NH, Renae M. Allaby and her partner, Mike Huettel, of Orlando, FL, Robin L. Kavanaugh and her husband, Brian, of Tewksbury, and Lauren M. Kloack and her husband, Justin, of Lynnfield; his great grandchildren, Anthony J. Beaudoin, Tyrus M. Beaudoin, Kyra L. Kavanaugh, Joshua M. Beaudoin, Nolan P. Kavanaugh, Brenda R. Beaudoin, Calli A. Kavanaugh, and Owen R. Beaudoin; his sister in law, Jennie Herzer and her husband, Bill, of Lake Worth, FL; his beloved family dogs, Zoe and Bailey; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was also a brother of the late Anthony Bettencourt.
YOU ARE INVITED TO HIS CALLING HOURS 4 UNTIL 8 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY. ON THURSDAY, HIS FUNERAL WILL BEGIN AT 9 A.M. AT THE MCDONOUGH FUNERAL HOME, 14 HIGHLAND STREET, LOWELL 978-458-6816. HIS FUNERAL MASS WILL BE OFFERED AT ST. MARY MAGDALENE CHURCH, 250 TYNGSBORO RD., DRACUT MA 01826, AT 10 A.M.. BURIAL IN ST. MARY CEMETERY. THE FAMILY WELCOMES FLOWERS, BUT THOSE WHO WISH TO CAN PLEASE SEND MEMORIALS IN HIS NAME TO THE DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS, PO BOX 14301, CINCINATTI, OH 45250-0301, ATTN: GIFT PROCESSING. E-CONDOLENCE SITE - MCDONOUGHFUNERALHOME.COM
