Rachel R. (Martin) Desjardins

Rachel (Martin) Desjardins, 97, of East Freetown, passed away on November 25, 2025.

Born in New Bedford, MA, on July 13, 1928, she was the fourth child of Joseph Martin and Laura (Desrosiers) Martin. She was a graduate of St. Anthony Grammar School and was class valedictorian at Sacred Hearts Academy. She also attended Bridgewater State College before her marriage to Joseph E. (Silva) Desjardins in 1950. Rae and her husband “Goldie” moved to East Freetown permanently in 1954 and raised their family there. Rae was employed by the Town of Freetown Board of Assessors for many years until her retirement in 1990.

Rae loved the outdoors and all things Long Pond, especially sunbathing, swimming, canoeing, sailing, and happy hours. She spent time at Long Pond every summer since the mid-1930s. Rae often commented that the best times of her life were spent with family and friends at the cottage and on the Pond. Rae loved her family, and it pleased her so much that her sisters and brothers, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and their children kept the Long Pond family traditions.

Rae loved music, was an avid reader, enjoyed working crossword puzzles, and walks to the Water Works. She was a loyal Boston Red Sox fan. Rae had a green thumb. Plants and flowers flourished in her home and yard. She always enjoyed boating, woodworking, and working projects with her father, husband, and sons. Well into her 90s, she raked leaves in the Fall and rode her John Deere mower.

In addition to her parents and husband and special aunt Aldea Desrosiers (Miss D), Rachel was predeceased by her siblings and their spouses, Roger and Helen Martin, Raymond and Catherine Martin, Germaine and Lucien Letendre, and her brother-in-law Joseph R. Drapeau; her in-laws Ernest and Laura (Morin) Desjardins, Lillian and Nelson Soucy, Normand and Marilyn Desjardins, Therese and Matthew Wayner, Paul and Lillian Desjardins.

She is survived by her loving and devoted sister Lucille Drapeau, her children Chris and Jim Cole, Marty and Lynne (Horton) Desjardins, Bill and Sheri (Strickland) Desjardins, Dan and Karen (Bjornland) Desjardins, her grandchildren Leah (Patrick Briody), Rachel (Christopher Nichols), Joey (Samantha Lucas), her great grandchildren Jack, Ed, and Hugh Briody, Henry Nichols, Raegan and Colton Desjardins. Also Laurie, Brady, Kim, Madeleine, Kaitlin, and Patrick Cole, a host of very special nieces and nephews, cousins, long-time friends, caring neighbors, and her cat Pawpy.

The family is grateful to the dedicated staff at The Oaks for the sincere and compassionate care provided to Rachel and to our cousins Diane Ritchie and Sue and Jack Bouley for their many kindnesses to “Aunt Edna” over the years.

In accordance with Rae’s wishes, a Celebration of Life will be held at Long Pond next summer.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Rae’s memory to the Long Pond Association (203 Hemlocks, Lakeville, MA 02347) https://longpondassociation.org/donate, the Freetown Historical Society https://www.freetownhistoricalsociety.org/about, or your favorite charity.

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