Joseph Arthur Desbiens

Joseph Arthur "Art" Desbiens, 91, of Tiverton, RI, formerly of Fall River, died on January 21, 2010. He was born in Somerset, MA where he attended Somerset High School. After the death of his father during the Depression, he helped support his family by joining the Civilian Conservation Corps where he learned carpentry, blacksmithing and other trades. He later graduated from Coyne Electrical School in Chicago, IL. He was a World War II army veteran, stationed in Maine and Panama as a member of the Signal Corps. He lived most of his life in Fall River, MA but most recently resided with his daughter in Tiverton, R.I. He began his career repairing radios and witnessed the birth of televisions which he also learned to repair. He also repaired all electrical appliances and white goods. He later owned and operated a laundromat in Fall River. He was a skilled carpenter and auto mechanic who also revelled in solving crossword puzzles and educating his children, grandchildren and many others in the intricacies of cribbage. He was married to Cecile Rita Lemerise for over fifty years until her death in 2002. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Regina (Pellerin) and Aurelius Desbiens, and sisters Archangel Pratt, Margaret Carroll and brother Gerald. He was a long-standing member of St. Jean Baptiste and Holy Trinity Churches. Survivors include his four children , Robert Desbiens of Somerset, MA, Dr. Norman Desbiens of Chatanooga, TN, Claire Schoonover of Plant City, FL and Denise Sherman of Tiverton, RI.; 11 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren, brothers Joseph Euclid (Pick) of Somerset, Marcel (Mark) of Fall River and sister Clarisse (Chris) Piche of Glendale, CA. Funeral mass will be held at Holy Trinity Church at 10 A.M. on Saturday, February 13, 2010 followed by a memorial reception at McGovern's Restaurant. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Hospice and Palliative Care, 502 Bedford St. Fall River, MA 02720.