Rev. Eugene Lacasse

SPENCER – Fr. Eugene Lacasse, O.C.S.O., a monk of St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, died very peacefully in the early hours of Monday, September 1st, at the Abbey's infirmary. Born Joseph Raymond Emile Lacasse on September 28, 1929, in Lawrence, Massachusetts, he
was the son of Wilfrid D. and Eva (Ouellette) Lacasse. He was a graduate of Central Catholic High School, where he studied Latin for four years, and later attended The McIntosh Business School to study bookkeeping. In 1948, he entered the Trappist novitiate at the order's former monastery, Our Lady of the Valley, in Rhode Island, where he received the religious name Eugene. After that monastery was destroyed by a fire in 1950, he and the other monks moved to a temporary shelter in Chepachet, Rhode Island, finally settling at the former Alta Crest Farm in Spencer to build St. Joseph's Abbey. Father Eugene pronounced his solemn vows as a choir religious in 1953 and was ordained a priest in 1954. In 1959 and 1960, he was sent to assist at the Abbey's newly established daughter-houses in Argentina and Chile. Upon his return to Spencer, he lived the quiet life of a
dedicated monk, serving for many years as the monastery's wardrobe keeper. Father Eugene was predeceased by his brother, Fr. Roland Lacasse, a Marist priest, and his sister, Lorraine Nadeau. In addition to his religious brothers at the Abbey, he is survived by his sister, Doris Bitler, and her husband, Paul; his nieces and nephews, Steven Bitler, Michael Bitler, Kathy Baxter, Cynthia Gravell, and Christine Nadeau. The monks are grateful for the excellent and compassionate care given to Fr. Eugene by the staff of St. Joseph's Abbey Resident Care Facility. With gratitude for the gift of his presence among us, the brothers commend Father Eugene's soul to your prayers. There are no calling hours. A Funeral Mass and burial will take place at the Abbey on Thursday, September 4th, at 2:30 PM. J. HENRI MORIN & SON FUNERAL HOME, 23 Maple Terrace, Spencer, is directing the arrangements.