Raymond H. SENECAL

GROTON - Raymond H. Senecal, 83, of Groton, passed peacefully on Sunday evening, September 18, 2005, after an extended illness.Raymond, the 14th of 15 children, was born on October 13, 1921 in Chisholm, MI. His parents, John and Alexina Senecal predeceased him in 1963 and 1965, respectively. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Patricia T. Hart Senecal of Sayville, NY, Nancy (Charles) Peacock of McLean, Linda Grieve of Groton, Ron (Tina) Senecal of Dryden, John Senecal of Groton, Diane (Greg) Shields of Dedham, MA; 18 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; Ray's siblings, Arthur of Groton, Victor of Sacramento, CA, and Margaret Larking of Burnsville, MN; several nieces and nephews.Ray moved to Groton in the spring of 1925 with his parents. After growing up in the West Groton area, Ray was the first to leave the "nest". Farm life never agreed with Ray's asthma and he longed for the more exciting things other than school. He always had a fantast with airplanes and chose to enlist in the Army in January of 1940. He is one of the few Pearl Harbor survivors left in upstate NY.Many will fondly remember Ray as the fun loving guy who was always smiling and "joking" around. Ray was a hard worker and raised his large family of seven with a strong hand and a soft heart. Ray was a tool-maker all of his life, working at Smith Corona and NCR in Ithaca, he was a member of the Holy Name Society of St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Past Commander and Adjutant of the Post #800 American Legion of Groton, Pearl Harbor Survivors, VFW Post #727 in Moravia, the Groton Rod & Gun Club and Corona Club Bowling League. Ray loved to golf and spend time with his "buddies" playing cards, playing piano or telling funny stories. He loved to laugh and enjoy his "Genesee Beer"; he loved people as much as he loved "tinkering" with anything mechanical. You'd always find Ray fixing or tearing something apart, and if it could be fixed, he would fix it and then save it just in case he needed "that" for something later on. He was lovingly named, "The King of KOB". Ray will be sadly missed by his wife, Pat, his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and long-time friends. Ray was "One Helluva Good Guy!"A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, September 22, 2005, 11:00 a.m. at St. Anthony's Church in Groton with the Rev. Scott Kubinski officiating. Interment will follow in St. Anthony's Cemetery with full military honors.The family will receive friends on Wednesday, 2 to 4:00 and 6 to 8:00 p.m. at the Zirbel Funeral Home, 115 Williams St., Groton. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Anthony's Church, Groton Nursing Facility, or the Groton American Legion.