Born
April 14, 1916
Burlington, Vermont

Parents
Narcisse “Nelson” &
Delina (Bouchard) Chagnon

Spouse
Alice (Poirier) Chagnon
Married August 26, 1939

Final Resting Place
New Mount Calvary Cemetery
Burlington, Vermont

Explore Roy’s Story

–👶 Early Life
👨‍👩‍👧 Marriage & Family
⚓ Military Service
💼Occupation
🏡 Home & Hobbies
🖼 Photographs
📜 Historical Docs
🪦 Cemetery & Memorial
💬 Remembering Roy
📚 Sources
❤️ Help Preserve This Story

📖 Biography

Roy Arthur Chagnon was born on April 14, 1916, in Burlington, Vermont, the ninth child of Narcisse “Nelson” Chagnon and Delina (Bouchard) Chagnon. Raised in Burlington’s Old North End during the early twentieth century, Roy experienced both the joys and hardships of growing up in a large French-Canadian family. Following the death of his father when Roy was eleven years old, he left school after completing the eighth grade to help support his widowed mother and younger siblings. Those early experiences shaped the hardworking, dependable, and family-centered man he would become.

On August 26, 1939, Roy married Alice Aurore Poirier, and together they built a life centered on faith, family, and service. During World War II, Roy proudly served in the United States Navy before returning home to begin a thirty-two-year career with the Burlington Water Department. Beyond his work, Roy enjoyed gardening, making homemade wine, cooking, playing the harmonica, and spending time with his large extended family. He was remembered as a devoted husband, loving father, proud veteran, and hardworking provider whose legacy continues through the generations that followed.

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Roy was born in Burlington, Vermont, on April 14, 1916, during one of the snowiest Aprils on record. He was the ninth child born to Narcisse “Nelson” Chagnon and Delina (Bouchard) Chagnon. Although the family moved frequently during his childhood, they always remained within Burlington’s Old North End, where Roy grew up surrounded by his many brothers and sisters.

When Roy was nearly twelve years old, his father died, leaving Delina to raise a large family alone. Roy left school after the eighth grade and began working various jobs to help provide for the household, learning responsibility and perseverance at an early age.

Roy married Alice Aurore Poirier at St. Joseph’s Church in Burlington on August 26, 1939. The couple began married life in modest apartments before purchasing their longtime family home on Russell Street in 1955. Together they raised four children:

  • Raymond Roy Chagnon
  • Larry David Chagnon
  • Linda Clara Chagnon
  • Barbara Ann Chagnon

Family was always the center of Roy’s life. Sundays were often spent visiting brothers, sisters, and cousins throughout Burlington, Essex Junction, and Winooski, where card games, horseshoes, music, and family meals created lasting memories.

Roy enlisted in the United States Navy on January 1, 1945, during World War II. He served as a Ship’s Cook Third Class in the Philippine Islands and received an honorable discharge in 1946.

Among the decorations he received were:

  • World War II Victory Medal
  • American Area Ribbon
  • Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon
  • Philippine Liberation Ribbon

Following his military service, Roy returned home to Burlington to resume family life and begin his long career with the Burlington Water Department.

  • Military enlistment and discharge papers
  • Draft registration

Throughout his life Roy held several jobs, including work in Burlington’s cotton mill industry, the Edlund Can Opener Company, and Tulatex Manufacturing.

Following World War II, he joined the Burlington Water Department, where he worked for more than three decades. Beginning as a laborer and equipment operator, he eventually became a supervisor. Roy often responded to emergency water main breaks during Vermont winters and took great pride in serving the City of Burlington. He retired after thirty-two years of service in order to help care for Alice as her health declined.

Roy enjoyed working with his hands and was constantly improving the family home.

Some of his favorite activities included:

  • Gardening and growing vegetables
  • Making homemade dandelion and Concord grape wine
  • Cooking, especially baked beans, gravy, and homemade pies
  • Playing the harmonica by ear with his brothers
  • Swimming and friendly competitions with family members
  • Home improvement and carpentry projects

One of Roy’s most memorable projects was demolishing a large barn behind his home using only careful planning and his Jeep. He also installed a retired city fire hydrant in his backyard, which later proved invaluable when a tenant’s kitchen caught fire.

Roy and Alice are buried together in New Mount Calvary Cemetery in Burlington, Vermont.

Although remembered as a hardworking provider, Roy was equally known for his kindness, quiet humor, and resourcefulness.

Family members remember him for:

  • Teaching by example through hard work.
  • Playing harmonica with his brothers during family gatherings.
  • Raising and lowering the American flag every day.
  • Always finding a way to fix or build something himself.
  • Making homemade wine and perfectly flaky pie crusts.
  • Taking pride in his family, his home, and his country.

These memories help preserve not only the facts of Roy’s life, but also the character of the man behind them.

Vital records, census records, military records, city directories, family photographs, newspaper articles, oral history interviews, and personal family recollections.

The Family Memorials collection is an ongoing project dedicated to preserving the lives and stories of the Chagnon family.

If you have photographs, letters, military records, newspaper articles, family stories, or additional information about Roy Arthur Chagnon, I would be honored to hear from you. Every contribution helps create a richer and more complete record of his life and preserves his story for future generations. Contribute to This Memorial

About the Family Memorial Archive

The Chagnon Family Memorial Archive is an ongoing effort to preserve the lives, stories, photographs, and historical records of Chagnon family members.
If you have additional information to contribute, please contact me.