Paul Wilfred Joseph Lemelin, 73
May 8, 1948 - January 9, 2022
Retired Salem Police officer Lt. Paul Wilfred Joseph Lemelin, 73 passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his children after a courageous battle with cancer on Sunday, January 9, 2022. He was the husband of the late Muriel Marie (Talbot) Lemelin who was the love of his life. They shared 47 glorious years together.
Born May 8, 1948 in Peabody Massachusetts to Wilfred and Amanda (Legare) Lemelin. He was raised and educated in Salem Massachusetts and was a graduate of Salem Classical High School class of 1966. Paul is a veteran of the United States Air Force enlisting in 1967, serving at multiple U.S bases in the air police until deployment to Pleiku Vietnam in 1969. He was awarded the following service medals: National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Air Force Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1971.
Upon completion of his military service Paul continued to serve the public. He became a provisional police trainee for the city of Salem in 1972. In 1974 he became a permanent full time police officer for the City of Salem. While working as a patrolman Paul furthered his education and achieved a Bachelors of Science from Northeastern University in 1979. After being promoted to Sergeant he earned a Masters from Ana Maria College in 1985. He received his final promotion in February of 1993 to the rank of Lieutenant until his retirement from Salem Police Department after 37 years of service in April of 2009. After retiring from the department in 2009 Paul enjoyed traveling with his wife Muriel and cherished every moment spent with his four children and nine grandchildren. His greatest days were spent with family on road trips, laughing, playing volleyball in the yard and swimming in his pool. He loved to play cards and celebrate the achievements of his children and grandchildren. Paul frequently would reminisce about meeting Muriel at the age of seven and becoming life long partners and often shared fond childhood memories of time spent with cousins while growing up in Salem. Paul loved to speak French whenever the opportunity presented itself. He always had a project to work on around his home. To relax he liked to read, play pool and make his famous chili.
Mr. Lemelin is survived by his four children Jennifer (Lemelin) Fournier and her husband Geno, Cheryl (Lemelin) Day and her husband David, Kimberly (Lemelin) McLaughlin and her husband Joseph, and Robert Lemelin and his wife Danielle; nine grandchildren, Hunter and Caitlyn Fournier, Emma, James, and Ava Day, Jared and Olivia McLaughlin and Madeleine and Benjamin Lemelin; his brother-in-law Raymond Talbot, one nephew Raymond; and three nieces Diane, Susan, Laurie, several close and supportive cousins, as well as his beloved labradoodle Rocky.
Arrangements: Relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours in the Berube & Sons Funeral Home, 191 Lafayette St. (Route 1A/114) Salem, on Friday, January 14, 2022 from 3:30-7:30 p.m. and to a funeral Mass on Saturday, January 15, 2022 in the Immaculate Conception Church, Hawthorne Blvd. Salem at 11 a.m. Burial with military honors will follow in St. Mary Cemetery, Salem. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Paul’s name to Chelsea Soldier’s Home, 91 Crest Ave, Chelsea, MA 02150 or to Honor Flight New England through https://honorflightnewengland.org/donate/. To send a condolence to the family please send a comment below.
