PAWTUCKET – Eugene Henri Ferland, 85, of Hyde Ave., died July 1. He was the husband of Mary T. (Grant) Ferland, and father of Rev. Thomas Ferland, Catholic chaplain of Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, North Providence.
Born in Pawtucket, a son of the late Alphage and RoseAnna (Martel) Ferland, he was a resident of Pawtucket and until recently a resident of Pompano Beach, Florida. Ferland was a building contractor and a principal in the Alphage Ferland and Sons Construction Company, which later became the Ferland Corporation. His other business interests were G&A Associates and Craig-Central Management.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy as a carpenter's mate aboard the U.S.S. Fox, U.S.S. Hoggatt Bay and at the Yokuska Naval base in Japan during the occupation.?He also served as a commander of AMVETS Post No. 11, 1957-1958; president of the Kiwanis Club of Pawtucket, 1964; and president of the Rhode Island Home Builders Association, 1987-1988.
Ferland was also a member of St. Gabriel Parish in Pompano Beach, Florida and St. Cecilia Parish in Pawtucket.
In addition to his wife and Father Ferland, he is survived by four other sons, Eugene W. Ferland of Kansas City, Mo., Robert D. Ferland of New York City, David J. Ferland of Cumberland, and John Peter Ferland of Sebastopol, Calif.; a daughter, Jennifer Torres of East Hampton, Conn; and a brother, Roland O. Ferland of Providence. He was also the brother of the late Armand, Albert, Arthur and Raymond Ferland, and Jeannette Casavant.
A Mass of Christian Burial was concelebrated July 7 at St. Cecilia Church, Pawtucket. Burial with full military honors was in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Providence.
