Joseph Arsenault, who grew up in Chelsea and spent his career building the trains the region rides on, died unexpectedly on July 25, 2026. He was 79.
He was born on November 13, 1946 in Chelsea to Josephine Wojciechkowski and Frank E.C. Arsenault, one of twelve children. He attended local schools and worked for several local companies before finding the work he became known for.
He worked for the Kinkisharyo Corporation as a master mechanic delivering the MBTA’s new Type 7 Green Line trolleys, and later for Bombardier as a quality control engineer on the Amtrak Acela locomotives. Anyone who has ridden a Green Line car of that generation has ridden his work.
He married Bonnie Emma Bleile in 1966 and they had 49 years together. They raised three children and took the family to a camp in Sanford, Maine, to Red Sox games, and to Disney and Epcot.
He is survived by his children Elizabeth Rullo of Chelsea, Dawn Snyderman of Lynn and Joseph Arsenault I of Georgetown, by six grandchildren, by his siblings Helen, Christine, Anthony and Edward, and by many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A gathering and life celebration were held at the Welsh Funeral Home in Chelsea on August 8, concluding with interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett.
Compiled by Chelsea Record staff from information published by Welsh Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea, (617) 889-2723. This is our own summary, not the family’s obituary; read the full obituary and leave a condolence at the funeral home’s page. Corrections: we will fix any error promptly.