WATERBURY - Roland "Rollie" T. Hamel age 92 of Waterbury passed away peacefully surrounded by the love and comfort of his family at Waterbury Hospital on Tuesday February 16th 2016 after an extended illness. He was the widower of Betty Lou (Traver) Hamel.
Rollie was born June 16th 1923 in Waterbury, the son of the late Joseph J. and Bridget Delia (O'Reilly) Hamel. He attended Saints Peter and Paul Grammar School and was a graduate of Leavenworth High School class of 1942. He proudly served his country with the US Marines during WWII. While stationed on Tinian Island, one of his duties included guarding the 'Enola Gay', the B-29 bomber that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. Rollie was the owner of Accurate Secondary Products for many years until his retirement and was a member of the Smaller Manufacturing Association. He was active in many civic organization including the Ancient Order of Hibernians, The Waterbury Elks Lodge and the Knights of Columbus, Sheridan Council 24 and served as a District Deputy to the State Council. He served as president of the Waterbury Exchange Club and was honored by them with the Golden Deeds Award. He was a past Commandant of the Department of Connecticut Marine Corps League and was a life member of the Franco American Social Club. Rollie also served as president of the CARC, now known as 'The Arc Connecticut'. In his free time Rollie enjoyed golfing, playing cards, especially Cribbage, and vacationing on Cape Cod.
Among his survivors are his son Roland "Skip" Hamel Jr. and his wife, Arlene of Waterbury, and Russell Hamel of Waterbury as well as nine grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren in addition to several nieces and nephews. Rollie was predeceased by his three brothers John, Howard and Harold and his sister Anna Mae McGrath.
Funeral Services for Mr. Hamel will be held on Tuesday, February 23rd, 2016 at 10:30 am at Saints Peter and Paul Church 67 Southmayd Rd Waterbury where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Those planning to attend are asked to meet directly at the church. Burial with full military honors will follow in New St Joseph's Cemetery Waterbury. Relatives and friends may visit with Rollie's family on Monday evening from 4:00 till 7:00 p.m. at CASEY'S EASTSIDE MEMORIAL 1987 East Main St., Waterbury. To extend online expressions of sympathy to the family or for additional information, kindly visit the funeral home website at:
www.eastsidememorial.com
.