HAVERHILL - Alfred Louis Candini, 95, of Haverhill, passed away peacefully Sunday morning, June 10, 2012 at the Mary Immaculate Nursing Home, Lawrence.

Alfred was born the only child of Augusto and Ermelina (Benati) Candini on March 12, 1917. He was the beloved husband of Rita (Emond) Candini. Alfred and Rita were married on December 23, 1937 and enjoyed 64 years of marriage before her death in 2002. He was also preceded by his oldest daughter, Sylvia (Houle) Greaney.

Alfred spent most of his life in Haverhill, attending Haverhill schools. He spent a short time living in Salem, NH only to return to Mission Towers in Haverhill to live out his final years.

He served in the United States Navy during WWII in the Seabees and was deployed to Sasebo, Japan. He received the WWII Victory Medal, American Area Medal and Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one star.

He was active as a member of the resident's council at Missions Towers and enjoyed playing cards with friends and bingo on Thursday evenings.

Alfred worked for a short time at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and retired from Western Electric in North Andover aft 35 years of service.

Alfred favorite pastime was watching the Boston Red Sox. He never missed a game. Born before the "Curse of the Bambino" he said he could go peacefully when the Red Sox took the Championship in 2004. But, that wasn't the end for Al, he saw them win another Pendant and gave his family eight more wonderful years, full of memories with him.

He was a kind and gentle soul. A man of few words. He was a proud and humble man and in the end, more courageous than anyone would have imagined. He left this world knowing he was loved. The family would like to thank the staff of Mary Immaculate Nursing Home for the tremendous care that Alfred received.

Alfred surviving family members include his daughter, Alice Raymond and her husband John of Haverhill, granddaughter, Arline Grant and her partner Robert Florentino of Hampstead, NH. Keith Grant and his wife Laurie of Methuen and Jeffrey Raymond and his wife Melissa of Haverhill. Alfred is also survived by five other grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews in the Emond family.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday morning, June 13, beginning in the Driscoll Funeral Home, 309 So. Main Street, Bradford at 10:30 AM. Catholic Funeral Rites will be offered at the funeral home at 11:00 AM. Interment with Military Honors will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Amesbury. Visiting hours will be held Tuesday in the Driscoll Funeral Home, 309 So. Main Street (Rte. 125), Bradford, from 3:00 to 7:00 PM. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend.

Contributions may be made in Alfred's memory to the Mary Immaculate Nursing Home c/o Activities Fund, 172 Lawrence Street, Lawrence, MA 01841 or to the National Kidney Foundation of New England, 85 Astor Avenue, Ste. 2, Norwood, MA 02062.

Courtesy local transportation to the visitation will be provided on request by calling Driscoll Funeral Home at 978-374-0000.