Roland Loisel Jr., 82 died unexpectedly on January 10, 2018. He is survived by his wife Barbara (Adair) Loisel, who he met at a USO dance held at a local YMCA- a quintessential 1950s love story that he never missed a chance to tell. The two married on July 4, 1959 and shared 58 years together at their home in the Edgewood neighborhood of Cranston.
Born October 3, 1935 in Waterville, Maine, he was the son of the late Cecile LaViolette and brother to the late Rodney Loisel. He worked for more than 20 years as a credit-purchasing manager at Leesona Machinery in Warwick, Ronci Manufacturing and R. I. Buckle Manufacturing before retiring in 2001. Shortly after graduating high school, Roland enlisted in the United States Army. He is a veteran of the Korean War and served honorably with the 8th Cavalry Regiment from 1953-1955 with deployments in Korea and Japan. For more than 22 years, he was an active participant in the Cub Scouts of America and the Boy Scouts of America as an adult leader, serving as Scout Master for St. Paul Troop 9. He was the recipient of the 1979-80 Scouter of the year award and proudly displayed it in his home office alongside a 1980 jamboree mug and his name badge. Until his death, Roland embodied the Scout motto ‘Be Prepared’ in all facets of life. Roland fervently believed that routine is the cornerstone to a well-balanced life: he was predictable in all the best ways. He had a thirst for knowledge and spent his life trying to better understand the world around him. There were three books that had a profound impact on his life: The Holy Bible, a pocket-sized copy of the Constitution, and a 646-page book of jokes. When he wasn’t at his home office desk tracking the days’ stock performance or programming his computer, Roland could be found in his garden.
His is survived by his daughter Mary Marnane and her husband Gary Povar of Cranston, sons Stephen and his wife Pam of Tolland, CT, and Robert and his wife Kelly Ann of Uxbridge, MA; eight grandchildren: Sean Marnane of his wife Nisha of North Smithfield, Ryan Marnane of Salem, MA, Dereck Loisel and his wife Jess of Warwick, Kyle McKendall (Marnane) and his husband Donny of Cranston, Keri Jeannetti (Marnane) and her husband Daryl of Attleboro, MA, Kendra Loisel of Phoenix, AZ, Talia Loisel of Cranston, and Kaiya Loisel of Cranston; three great-grandchildren: Avery, Logan and Aubrella; five step-grandchildren, Hayley, Paytenne, Brendan, Robbie, and Amanda, who will all continue proselytizing that green tea should always be served warm, not hot, with good quality honey.
Relatives and friends are invited to a Mass of Christian Burial, Friday, January 12, 2018 at 10 a.m. in St. Paul Church, One Saint Paul Place, Cranston.
