Roland Charron, Jr.

Roland Charron, Jr., 72, of Westport, MA, died peacefully on Thursday, August 10, 2023 at St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, MA, surrounded by the family he deeply loved and supported. He is survived by his wife Elaine (Tetrault) Charron; daughter Amy-Lyn (Charron) Smiddy of Westport; son Brian Charron and his partner Michael Bergassi of Westport; grandsons Tyler Charron of Fall River, and Air Force Staff Sergeant Colin Bagley of Charleston, SC. He also leaves a brother, Chester Charron and his wife Rev. Sheila Singleton-Charron of Fall River; a goddaughter, Mary Jean (McLendon) Wade of North Providence; and several nephews. He is the son of the late Roland Charron, Sr. and Josephine (Gruszczenska) Charron.

Born and raised in Fall River, MA, Roland met Elaine in 1974 while they were coincidentally both on a trip to Africa with a group from St. Stanislaus Church. They started dating when they arrived back in Fall River and were married in 1975. They bought their home on Gifford Road in Westport in 1978, where they raised their children, built his business, and enjoyed entertaining family and friends.

Roland graduated from BMC Durfee High School in 1969, and received an Associate of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology from Bristol Community College in 1971. He then went on to run his own business, Roland Charron, Jr. Electrical Contractors, for the next 42 years, retiring in 2018. He was extremely proud of his work accomplishments for many local businesses, including The Coachman Restaurant, Rose Hawthorne Lathrop Home, Dunkin’ Donuts, Rite Aid, Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, The Ponds of Plymouth, Go Modular, Oriental Pearl Restaurant, Confections Bakery, and Four Town Farm. In addition to being a licensed Journeyman and Master Electrician in MA, RI, and NH, he was also a licensed Massachusetts Construction Supervisor. He was a member and on the Board of Directors of the Roger Williams Chapter of the International Association of Electrical Inspectors, and a member of the Massachusetts Electrical Contractors Association, New Bedford Electrical Contractors Association, and Rhode Island Builders Association.

Always a hardworking entrepreneur throughout his career, he had many business ventures. In the early 1980s, he opened Charron Lighting. And in the 1990s, his interest in repairing jewelry led him to running Amy’s 14 Kt. Gold inside flea markets in Fall River and New Bedford, and then taking over new ownership of Dumont Jewelers in Fall River.

He will be remembered as someone who was always willing to help others — whether it was wiring a light fixture, building an addition onto a house, plowing a driveway, digging a trench with his Kubota, or repairing a piece of jewelry — and for undoubtedly having the right tools or equipment to do it.

Throughout the years, Roland was very active in his parish, Our Lady of Grace. While his son, and later his youngest grandson, were members of the Boy Scouts Troop 100, he enthusiastically served as both Cub Master and Scout Master, and enjoyed coordinating Pinewood Derbies, camping trips, and other Scout activities. He more recently served as President of the Young at Heart Senior Club. And he never passed up an opportunity to organize a coffee and doughnuts social. In 2017, he received the Marian Medal Award to recognize his service to the Church.

His hobbies included fishing on Sawdy Pond, shooting at Fall River Rod & Gun Club (where he was a proud lifetime member since his teenage years), hunting, bowling, traveling, coin collecting, and most recently attending the Supportive Day Program at the Westport Council on Aging. He was always known to have a coffee cup in his hand while working, or to be ordering a glass of White Zin when dining at a restaurant.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Lewy Body Dementia Association, which is the form of dementia that affected him. Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 17, 2023, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm, at Auclair Funeral Home, 690 South Main Street, Fall River, MA. The funeral service will be held on Friday, August 18, 2023, at 9:00 am from the Funeral Home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Grace, 569 Sanford Road, Westport, MA. Interment to follow at Beech Grove Cemetery in Westport, MA.