PROVIDENCE — Father J.A. Roger Lacasse, 84, a senior priest of the Diocese of Providence, died Dec. 9 at Rhode Island Hospital.
Born in Providence, son of the late Amedee and Angelina (Richard) Lacasse, he attended the former Jesus-Marie Academy and Precious Blood School in Woonsocket. In preparation for the priesthood, he studied with the Jesuit Fathers at St. Ignace and College Saint-Marie, Montreal, Canada, and also at St. Mary Seminary, Baltimore, Maryland, and was ordained a priest on May 30, 1953 at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul in Providence by Bishop Russell J. McVinney.
During the summer of 1953, Father Lacasse served as assistant pastor of St. Andrew Church in Block Island, then was assigned in the fall to St. John the Baptist Church, Pawtucket. From November 1953 until September 1969, he served at St. Matthew Church, Central Falls. Following that assignment, he served at St. Vincent de Paul Church, Coventry (1969-1971) and at St. Cecilia Church, Pawtucket (1971-1973). In January 1973, he was appointed pastor of St. Joseph Church, Woonsocket. In June 1983, he resigned that position and in August of the same year he became assistant pastor at Our Lady of Consolation Church, Pawtucket. In January 1984, he was appointed chaplain of Hospice St. Antoine, North Smithfield and remained there until June 1996 when he retired as a senior priest.
After his retirement from the chaplaincy, Father Lacasse resided at St. Ann Church rectory, Woonsocket and offered his priestly services at All Saints Parish, where he also resided in recent years.
Father Lacasse is survived by one brother, the Oblate of Mary Immaculate Father Raymond Lacasse of San Fernando, Calif.; and three sisters, Therese Richard of Warwick, Gisele Williams of New York City, N.Y., and Madeleine Kula of Woonsocket. He was the brother of the late Jesuit Father Henri Lacasse of Richelieu, Quebec, Canada; and Eugenie Barthelemy of Pascoag.
A concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial was offered for the repose of his soul on Dec. 14 at All Saints Church, Woonsocket with Bishop Louis E. Gelineau as the main celebrant and Bishop Robert E. Mulvee and other clergy concelebrating. Father Roger A. Houle served as the homilist.
Burial was in St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Bellingham, Mass.
