1953 - 2026
Born on October 28, 1953, in Abbeville, Louisiana, Jesse was the son of the late Murphy Joseph and Electa (Sturlese) Bourque.
Raised among a large and lively family, Jesse was known from an early age as a fun-loving prankster — or canaille, as they say in Cajun French. His humor, charm, and playful spirit remained with him throughout his life and became one of the many qualities loved by those around him.
Jesse spent much of his youth hunting and fishing around Pecan Island, Louisiana, developing a deep connection to the outdoors. He explored the marshes, waterways, and woods of southern Louisiana and passed along his appreciation for wildlife conservation and the importance of protecting coastal environments to his family.
For more than 20 years, Jesse worked on offshore petroleum production platforms in the Gulf of Mexico before retiring following injuries sustained during a post-hurricane inspection.
Jesse was also known for his love of Cajun cooking. Family and friends treasured his homemade recipes for dishes like corn maque choux, chicken and sausage gumbo, and crawfish étouffée. He generously shared his culinary knowledge and was always eager to pass along recipes to anyone who appreciated good food.
He is survived by his son, Jesse Bourque Jr. of Douglas, Massachusetts; his daughter, Michelle Credeur and her husband Jeremy of Arlington, Tennessee; his four sisters, Ruby Broussard, Veronica Touchet and her husband Glenn, Helen Stanisky, and Judy Shipperbottom; along with three cherished grandchildren.
Jesse was predeceased by his granddaughter, Zoey Credeur, and his siblings Gordon, Eugene, James, Norman, Wayne Bourque, Catherine Miller, and Patricia Harrington.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 27th, at 11:00 AM at the Saint Mary’s Church on Mendon Street in Uxbridge.
Burial will follow at Saint Mary’s Cemetery on Granite Street.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Mary’s Second Century Capital Fund.
