Obituary: Thomas L. Berube, 72, Managed Former Nichols Funeral Home in Marblehead

Obituary from Berube and Sons Funeral Home

Thomas L. Berube, 72, of Salem died Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 in the company of his family in Salem Hospital. He was the husband of Priscilla (Paquin) Berube of Salem. Born in Salem the son of the late Rodrigue and Ruth (O’Shea) Berube, Tom was a lifelong resident of Salem.

Tom was educated at the former St. Joseph’s Grammar School in Salem, St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers, and attended University of Massachusetts Amherst before enlisting in the U. S. Army where he reached the rank of SP5 with U.S. Army Intelligence stationed in Korea, Vietnam, and Maryland. While serving in Korea, Tom was a member of the Army Sky Diving Club. Following his service in the Army, Tom received his Massachusetts and National Board certificates in 1965 from the New England Institute of Anatomy and Embalming in Boston.

Together with his father, Rudy, and brother, Fred, they owned and operated Berube and Sons Funeral Home of Salem and St. Laurent Funeral Home of Lynn and managed the former Nichols Funeral Home of Marblehead. Tom was a life member of the Franco AM VETS Post 12, AM VETS Post 161, VFW Post 1524 of Salem, Knights of Columbus Third Degree since 1966, Father Druillette Assembly Fourth Degrees Knights of Columbus and was a former member of the Salem Planning Board under Mayor Sam Zoll.

Along with his wife and special friend, Priscilla, with whom he would have shared 50 years of marriage this February, he is survived by their four children, Suzanne Snow and her husband Hooper, Danielle Howland and her husband Paul of Holliston, Jennifer Cunningham and her husband Peter of Salem, and Eric Berube, the Director of Berube and Sons Funeral Home and his wife Andrea of Salem; twin grandchildren, Thomas Gene and Lindsey Ruth Howland, and his granddaughter Emily Nicole Howland; two brothers, Alfred Berube and his wife Jeanine of Maine, Daniel Berube and his wife Joanne of Salem; a sister Mary Ruth Berube Roderick and her husband Richard of Salem, and many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to visiting hours in the Berube and Sons Funeral Home, 191 Lafayette St., Salem on Wednesday, Oct. 15 from 3-7 p.m. Tom’s funeral Mass will be held in Ste. Anne Church, Jefferson Avenue, Salem on Thursday at 11 a.m. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in his name to Disabled Veterans of America through www.DAV.org. Directions, information, and guest book are available at www.BerubeFuneralHome.com.