Ralph Lebel

Ralph Lebel, 96, died peacefully on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at the Kaplan House in Danvers surrounded by his beloved family. He was the cherished husband of the late Jeanette V. Lebel.

Ralph was born in Salem, MA to Ralph and Anna (O’Connor) Lebel. He lived in Peabody. He honored his country by serving in the United States Army during World War II.

In 1955, Ralph and Jeanette married and lived in Danvers, MA where they raised their four children in the family home he built. Ralph was employed by Sylvania for 35 years as a mechanic. While living in Danvers, he started and ran a successful Ski-Doo business with his wife Jeanette. He shared his talents in mechanics and woodworking with his sons Ralph and David.

Some of his favorite memories include stockcar racing; snowmobile racing and travel adventures: camping across the country, Canada and into Alaska; watching Chuck Wagon races; and making many friends along the way.

Ralph enjoyed tending to and harvesting the family garden. He especially enjoyed the homemade pickles and raspberry jam made by his wife, who later shared her recipes with her daughters Nancy and Sharon.

He raised chickens in the “Chicken Condo” he built, and his family benefited from the daily fresh harvested eggs. He built two wood duck boxes for the back pond and if you were lucky enough, you could see the baby ducks floating in the pond before heading downstream.

The view from the kitchen window was loved by all, overlooking the backyard, the garden, bird feeders and pond. If you were looking at the right time, you could see a passing deer, turkey, foxes, groundhogs, and a white heron lovingly known as “big bird” who would eat the fish in the pond. And of course, the chickens who would free range in the back yard. Ralph enjoyed sitting with Jeanette under the apple tree taking in the amazing view of nature.

He is survived by his children, Nancy Barisano and her husband David, Ralph Lebel and his wife Noreen, David Lebel and his wife Lisa, and Sharon Leach and her husband John. His grandchildren, Teresa and her fiancé Steve, Michelle, Sarah and her husband Tom, Mary, Amy and her husband Alex, Thomas, and Katherine and her fiancé Matt. His great-grandchildren, Nora, Grace, Brady and Casey. His sister, Beatrice Smith, his cousin Ida Lebel, and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife Jeanette, and his sisters, Doris Santapaula, and Irene Bean.

Funeral services will be private. Donations in Ralph’s memory may be made to Kaplan Family Hospice House, 78 Liberty St., Danvers, MA 01923 or Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923. Arrangements are by C.R. Lyons & Sons Funeral Directors, Danvers. To share an expression of sympathy with the Lebel family, please visit www.LyonsFuneral.com.