Mr. Ralph F. Whelan III Obituary (1936

Ralph Fabian Whelan III, 79, of Mansfield, passed away Wednesday, January 6, 2016, at Norwood Hospital. He was the husband of Janice Lanthier Whelan of Mansfield, with whom he shared 40 years of marriage. Born in Washington, DC on January 28, 1936, he was the eldest son of the late Ralph F Whelan II and Sally (Mazzarini) Whelan. He was the brother of the late Richard Whelan of South Attleboro and son-in-law of the late Raymond and Adella (Kaczowka) Lanthier of Attleboro. Ralph served as a sergeant in the army until 1958 and studied Electronic Technology at Montgomery Junior College, graduating in 1961. He owned Jasco, a video rental and electronics repair store in Plainville for many years before joining the Boston Herald as a mailer, where he worked until 2008. He had many interests and hobbies, including golf, gaming, politics, physics, music, and planning 4th of July parties. Surviving in addition to his wife; daughters, Stacey Arnieri and her husband Nicholas Arnieri of Newtonville,and Kerrina Whelan of North Attleboro; a son Ralph F Whelan the IV of Largo, FL, and grandson Ralph F Whelan V of Georgia. He is also survived by his siblings Thomas Whelan of Schulenburg, TX, Gerald Whelan of Malden, Elena Whelan of Brockton, John Whelan of Baltimore, MD, brother-in-law, Joseph Lanthier of Norfolk, VA, and many loving nieces and nephews. Many thanks to the Norwood Hospital Day Surgery nurses who made Ralph’s weekly visits comfortable and of whom he often spoke so fondly, and to the ICU nurses who cared for him in his final days. Sincere thanks to Dr. Charles Chen of Foxboro Health Center for his many years of guidance, honesty and support. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 from 4-7 PM in the Duffy- Poule Funeral Home, 20 Peck Street, Attleboro, MA. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at 11 AM in the funeral home. Burial will follow in St. John’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ralph’s name may be made to Lights Out 4 Leukemia, 325 New Boston Street, Unit 10, Woburn, MA 01801 or online at www.lightsout4leukemia.com.