Former FRHSD Bus Driver Dies at 92

Roland G. “Frenchie” Parenteau, 92, of Freehold Township died peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Thursday, September 19, 2013.  Frenchie was born of French Canadian parents in Fairfield, VT  and was a lifelong Freehold resident. 

For over 40 years, he was a high school bus driver with the Freehold Regional High School District, retiring in 1990.  Prior to that, Frenchie was a self-employed carpenter contractor.  In addition to working his own farm, he farmed many acres in Monmouth County.  He also served as a building inspector for Freehold Township in the 1950s.  Frenchie was a charter member of the Freehold Township Independent Fire Co. #1, as well as a member of the Freehold Township Heritage Society and the Jerseyville, Pomona and State Grange.  He was also a parishioner of St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church.

Frenchie was predeceased by his wife, Goldie E. Wilson in 2009.  He is survived by three daughters, Terry Parker and her husband, Malcolm of Manalapan, Pat Eisemann and her husband, John of  Manalapan, and Mary Lou Kivela and her husband, Tom  of Lincoln, DE; five grandchildren, Pam Duke and her husband, Brian, Gwen Parker and her husband, Gregg Burnstein, Travis Eisemann and his fiancée, Laura Krolikowski, Jesse Eisemann and Andrew Kivela; five great grandchildren, Malcolm, Colin and Emma Duke, and Katie and Scott Burnstein, his special caregiver, Annie; and two sisters-in-law, Marie Parenteau of Florida and Violet Parenteau of Arizona.

Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Sunday, September 22, 2013 from 3:00 to 7:00 PM.   Relatives and friends are invited to gather at 9:00 AM on Monday, September 23, 2013 at the funeral home for the procession to his 10:00 AM Funeral Mass at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township.  Interment will be private.  

For those who desire, contributions in memory of Frenchie may be made to Freehold Township Independent Fire Company #1, 3587 U.S. Highway 9, Suite 302, Freehold, NJ  07728 and CentraState Healthcare Foundation,916 Route 33, Suite 6, Freehold, NJ  07728.  For information, directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www. claytonfuneralhome.com.