Rev. Wilfred G. Demers

Rev. Wilfred G. Demers passed away on Thursday, July 23 in Manches­ter, NH. He was 82 years old. Born and raised in Berlin, NH, he was ordained a Catholic priest on May 23, 1959, fol­lowing studies at Saint Francis Col­lege, Biddeford, Maine, and Saint Mary Seminary, Baltimore, Maryland.

After serving in a num­ber of assignments, Father Demers served as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Par­ish, Pillsfield, NH. He later served as pastor of Infant Jesus Parish in Nashua, Mary, Mother of the Church in Newton, and Saint Mat­thew Parish in Windham, until his retirement in 1999.

During his retirement, Father Demers remained actively engaged in parish ministry. He was in resi­dence at Saint Marie Parish in Manchester for a num­ber of years before moving to Bishop Peterson Resi­dence, and more recently, to Mount Carmel Nursing Home, in Manchester.

On Monday, July 27, 2015, the Rite of Reception of the Body will take place at Saint Joseph Cathedral at 10 a.m. Father Demers will lie in state at the Cathe­dral from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral. The Most Rever­end Peter A. Libasci, Bish­op of Manchester, will pre­side at a Mass of Christian Burial at noon. The Rite of Committal will take place at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Berlin at a later date. The Phaneuf Funeral Home has care of the arrangements.

Father Demers, a very beloved priest to many peo­ple in New Hampshire for many years, is survived by his sister Tony Rodrigue; nieces Pauline Aldrich and Claudette Frechette; and nephews Robert Rodrigue and Ronald Demers. Dona­tions in his memory may be made to the charities of one’s choice.