William L. Drapeau

William L. Drapeau, 95, of East Providence, passed away on Sunday, June 9, 2024 at his home. He was the loving husband of Elaine (Spinella) Drapeau. They celebrated 64 years of marriage this past October. Born in Seekonk, he was the son of the late Albert A. And Grace (Mullen) Drapeau.

Bill, as he was known by family and friends, was one of the original members of the pre-WW II Seekonk Boys Club. Bill played on the Seekonk Jr. High School's first tackle football team in 1943 playing against teams from the Bristol County area of Massachusetts and nearby Rhode Island. He attended and graduated from East Providence High School in 1948 and played on their football team and the wrestling team, being a member of the 1947 R.I. High School Championship Wrestling Team. Bill served in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953 attending basic training at Fort Hood, Texas and graduating from the Military Police Academy at Camp Gordon, Georgia. He then served in Germany during the "Cold War" between Russia and our European Allies.

Upon his marriage in 1959 Bill and his wife Elaine moved to East Providence. In 1974 Bill ran for and was elected State Representative serving the Rumford area for ten years. He served on the R.I. Democratic State Committee for twelve years and its Board of Directors for seven years. He was a lifetime member of the Irish Hibernian Club in Newport.

Bill graduated from Johnson & Wales and also attended and took classes at Providence College. He worked at Federal Products in Providence as a Mechanical Engineer. He later worked for the State of Rhode Island Treasury Department where he retired in 1990.

Bill and his wife Elaine loved traveling and spent 18 days touring the many pyramids of Egypt with a ten-day Nile River cruise. Also visiting most all of the countries in Europe and many of them numerous times including the many small villages of Sicily with its many ancient Greek ruins.

Besides his wife, Bill is survived by his daughter Deborah Anania and her husband David and his daughter Donna Drapeau. He was the father of the late Diane Drapeau and the late Edward Drapeau whose wife is Kathleen Drapeau. He is also survived by his loving grandchildren David Anania and his wife Lindsey, Andrew Anania, Zackary, Danielle, Ethan, Eric and Hailey Drapeau and a great-granddaughter, Audrey Anania along with many nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Norman, Daniel, Albert and James Drapeau.

His funeral will be held on Friday, June 14, 2024 at 9:00 AM from the PERRY-McSTAY FUNERAL HOME, 2555 Pawtucket Avenue, East Providence with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM in St. Margaret's Church, 1098 Pawtucket Avenue, Rumford. Burial will be in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Calling hours Thursday 4-7 PM.