1953 – 2013

HARTFORD — Verne Paradie Sr., 60, of Hartford, passed away peacefully on Friday, Nov. 22, at his home with his family by his side. Verne won the battle over ALS, eventually succumbing to cancer.

Verne grew up in Auburn and graduated from Edward Little High School in 1971, where he starred in basketball and baseball. After high school, Verne married Sandra Hamel. He spent most of his life working for Northeastern Refrigeration, installing refrigeration in supermarkets across northern New England. He also helped found Maine Market Refrigeration.

Verne’s personality made him well-known and well-liked by all those he interacted with, both at work and socially. For many years, Verne continued to pursue his love of baseball by playing softball for the East Auburn Lakers. He was an avid Red Sox fan, making sure he watched every single game and insisted he could do a better job coaching. This fall, he was able to watch the Red Sox win the World Series with his children at his home, which brought him great joy. Many people still approach his family members with stories of Verne’s success on the softball field.

After his illness prevented him from working and playing softball, Verne spent every day playing Tiger Woods Golf on the Internet, with his close friends from all over the world. He was able to establish many close and lasting friends from playing golf every day. In 1991, Verne married Debbie Prokey, who has been his dedicated and devoted caregiver for the past several years. Verne’s fight with ALS was an inspiration to all who knew him. He fought the disease for nearly 20 years, despite being given only two years to live.

Verne is survived by his loving and dedicated wife, Debbie Paradie, of Hartford, who provided devoted and daily care for Verne for the past several years; his children, Verne Paradie Jr. and his wife, Tara, of Auburn, Tammy Thibeault and her husband, Dan Thibeault, of Litchfield, Tammy McClain and her husband, Steven, of Ohio, Trish Fecteau and her husband, Jim Fecteau, of Connecticut, Dawn Lamontagne and her husband, Jason, of New Hampshire, Shawn Prokey and his fiancée, De’Ana Celestino, of Hartford and Shannon Breton and her husband, Kevin Breton, of Hartford; 18 grandchildren, Emma, Giles, Braden and Meaza Paradie, Olivia and Ariana Thibeault, Dillon, Brandon and Blake McClain, Kayla and Haley Theriault, Caitlyn and Matt Fecteau, Gage and Samantha Lamontagne, Abigail Prokey and Nolan and Alyssa Breton; brother, Henry Paradie of Lisbon Falls; brother, Robert Paradie and companion, Aurie Cox, of Lisbon Falls; sister, Shirley Hersey and companion, Norman Enman, of Turner; sister, Rita Nichols and her husband, Elmer Nichols, of Minot; and his first wife, Sandra Paradie, of Litchfield.

Condolences may be expressed at Funeralalternatives.net.