Obituaries

Obituary: Normand Joseph Achin, Mechanical Engineer at I.E.C. Corp in Needham

Normand Joseph Achin, 82, of North Attleboro, passed away Dec. 29, 2013.  

He was husband of the late Gloria (de la Feuilliez) Achin.

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Born Dec. 15, 1931 in North Attleboro, he was son of the late Leo J. Achin Sr. and Louise (Ringuette) Achin.

Normand was a lifelong resident of North Attleboro and a 1949 graduate of North Attleboro High School.  He attended Wentworth Institute and graduated with a bachelor's degree in engineering from Northeastern University in Boston.

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He served the United States Navy as a machinist in the engine room of the Joseph P. Kennedy Destroyer during the Korean War.

Normand worked as a mechanical engineer at the Foxboro Company and later many years at I.E.C. Corp in Needham before retiring in 1995.

He loved to fish, particularly in New Hampshire on the Connecticut Lakes and enjoyed fly tying. He also enjoyed splitting firewood and gardening.  He was a devoted baseball fan, loved animals and most of all loved spending time with his grandchildren.

Normand was also active in Town Government in North Attleboro. He served on the RTM and the Board of Health for several years and volunteered for the North Attleboro Historical Society. Normand was a lifelong communicant of Sacred Heart Parish and a member of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste Society.

He is survived by his children Rochelle J. Betts and her husband Donald Jr. of North Attleboro, Collette L. Achin of North Attleboro, Dianne E. Dion of North Attleboro, Normand L. Achin and his wife Tonya of North Attleboro, Robert H. Achin and his wife Dorothy of North Stonington, Conn. and Peter J. Achin and his wife Melissa of Attleboro; his two brothers Leo J. Achin Jr. of Arizona and Robert J. Achin of North Attleboro; his sister-in-law June Davis of North Attleboro; and his grandchildren Donald R. Betts III, Stephanie E. Betts, Stephen P. Dion, Geoffrey N. Dion, Meghan L. Dion, Morgan L. Achin and Danielle M. Achin. He was preceded in death by his son-in-law Christopher Dion.

Visiting hours will be held Friday, Jan. 3, 3 to 7 p.m. in the Sperry & McHoul Funeral Home, 15 Grove St., North Attleboro. A funeral will be held from the funeral home on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 9 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in Sacred Heart Church, 58 Church St., North Attleboro at 10 a.m. Burial with United States Navy Military Honors will follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery & Arboretum, Attleboro Falls.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the North Attleboro Animal Shelter, 43 South Washington Street, North Attleboro, MA 02760.


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