UPTON – Retired Upton Police Chief Rodney B. Marchand, 77, of Upton, died November 29, 2014 in the University of Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center in Worcester after a period of declining health. His wife of 53 years, Joan E. (Faretra) Marchand, died last November.
Chief Marchand was born in Needham, the son of the late Joseph and Mildred (Gear) Marchand. He grew up in Sherborn and Holliston and was a 1957 graduate of Holliston High School. He served with the Massachusetts National Guard for many years and attained the rank of sergeant. A resident of Upton for over 50 years, he joined the Upton Police Department in 1960 and served as Chief of Police from 1969 to1989. He remained affiliated with the police force until his death and had a never-ending dedication to public safety and the Town of Upton police, fire, EMS, and snow plowing operations. A member of the Blue Knights Police Brigade and the Massachusetts Police Chiefs Association, he was also actively involved in his son’s business, Mike’s Auto Body in Upton, and was proud of his family’s three generations of service to Upton.
He leaves two sons, Asst. Fire Chief Michael Marchand and his wife Patricia of Upton, and Paul Marchand of Natick; two grandchildren, Lauren Marchand of Northbridge, and Fire Lt. Shaun Marchand of Upton; two great-grandchildren, Trevor and Alexis; and two sisters, Betty Tibbetts of Southboro and Denise Crosby of Uxbridge. He was also the brother of the late Jane, Deborah, Paul, and Joe Marchand.
Funeral services will be held Friday, December 5 at 10 a.m. in St. Gabriel the Archangel Church, 151 Mendon Street, Upton. Burial will follow in Lakeview Cemetery in Upton.
Calling hours at the Williams-Pedersen Funeral Home, 45 Main Street, Upton, are Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m.
If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Upton Ambulance Fund, Box 1012, Upton 01568. http://www.uptonfunerals.com
UPTON DAILY 
I always enjoyed talking about the ” then and now ” of police work with Chief Marchand. He seemed to me to be very proud of his community and would be willing to do anything to help those in it, just like his son and grandson.. Small towns like ours are better places because of people like them.
Rest in peace Chief.
D. Studley
Rod.. was a truly dedicated member of the police department and the Town of Upton. Both the department and the town was first and foremost in his life. Rod will be missed by many.
Robert J. Miller