1917 – 2004

LEWISTON – Xavier Chasse, 86, of Lewiston passed away from a short illness at Central Maine Medical Center on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

He was born in St. Agatha, on May 21, 1917, the son of Stanisclaus and Alphonsine (Deschaine) Chasse and was educated in the public schools of St. Agatha.

As a young man, he enlisted in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and worked in forestry and construction. He aided in building the carriage roads of Acadia National Park on Mt. Desert Island. Upon discharge from the CCC, he moved to Biddeford, followed by Lewiston and worked at New England Shipbuilding of South Portland, building Naval vessels during World War II.

There he met Ethel Daigle, also of St. Agatha, and they were married June 27, 1944, at SS. Peter & Paul Church. After the war, they continued living in Lewiston where he worked in forestry and construction.

He was a heavy equipment operator specializing in road and bridge construction at Hinman Bros of Portland and Seaword Construction of Portsmouth, N.H.

He was known by many as “Pepere” at Harry J. Crooker Construction of Topsham until the age of 70, when he retired. He was a devoted and faithful communicant of SS. Peter and Paul Church of Lewiston for over 60 years.

He is survived by his wife of almost 60 years of Lewiston; a son, Robert and Kay Chasse of Payson, Ariz.; their daughters, Jessica Chasse of Mesa, Ariz., and Allison Chasse of Nagano, Japan; a daughter, Mona (Chasse) and James Gagne of Embden Pond; their daughters and husbands, Melissa (Gagne) and Jason Beckwith of Trenton, and Amy (Gagne) and Brian Hawthorne of Mansfield, Mass.; and great-grandchildren, Logan James Beckwith and Samantha M. Hawthorne; he is also survived by a brother, Wilfred Chasse of Southington, Conn.; and sisters, Albertine Beaulieu of Madawaska, Marie Livingston of Oakland, Hilda Foss of Lewiston, and Theresa Albert of Madawaska.

Along with his parents, he was predeceased by his stepfather, Ernest Martin; brothers, Victorien, Paul, Adrien, and Alphee: and sisters, Rose Levesque, Irene Derosier, Modeste Mudie, and Alphena Bast. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

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