Robert A. Palmeri, 81, Owned Provost Pharmacy

robert_palmeriRobert A. Palmeri, 81, a longtime resident of Haverhill, died Dec. 14, at Hannah Duston Health Center following an extended illness.

Born in Wareham and raised and educated in New Bedford, he was the son of the late Nicholas and Doris (Borghi) Palmeri. A graduate of Holy Family High School in 1953, Palmeri went on to receive his bachelor’s from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy, Boston. He served in the U.S. Army as a pharmacy specialist 4 during the Vietnam War from 1958 until his honorable discharge 1964. Palmeri owned and operated Provost Pharmacy in Lafayette Square for more than 20 years and also worked as a pharmacist at Freedom Drug, Osco, Rite-Aid and Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital. Palmeri was an active member of All Saints Parish and the former St Joseph Parish, serving as a collector and was also a member and treasurer of the Haverhill Pharmaceutical Association. He enjoyed Square Dancing and Round Dancing as a member of Holly’s Barn and the NECCO Squares. He also enjoyed many years of traveling across the United States, Mexico and Canada in His R.V., as well as spending time and creating wonderful memories at the family cottage on Lake Attitash. An avid woodworker, he crafted many detailed holiday decorations and took great pride in his Christmas tree decorating every year.

He leaves his wife of 55 years, Marie E. (Denoncourt) Palmeri; son Gerard A. Palmeri of Watertown; daughter and son-in-law, Anne-Marie and Philip Fontaine of Merrimac; three grandsons, David A. Fontaine of Manchester, and Joshua A. Fontaine and Robert A. Fontaine, of Merrimac; as well as many cousins and friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his life celebration Thursday, Dec. 22, from 4 to 8 p.m., at Berube-Comeau Funeral Home, 47 Broadway, Haverhill. His funeral  begins Friday, 9 a.m., from the funeral home, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in All Saints Church, 120 Bellevue Ave., Haverhill. The family requests that memorial donations be made to The American Cancer Society.