Laurent ‘Larry’ Dupuis

Laurent “Larry” Dupuis, aged 86, died peacefully at his home, on July 21, 2022, in Hudson, New Hampshire. He was a loving and devoted husband and companion, a supportive and caring father and “Pépère” to his grandsons, as well as a brother, uncle, cousin and a faithful friend to many, many others. Larry loved to laugh, loved to make others laugh and loved his family and friends. There was nowhere else Larry would rather be than at a family reunion or family event where he could see and spend time with his family and friends. Larry was born Aug. 30th, 1935, in Waterville, Quebec, the eldest of six children born to Hector Dupuis and Irène (Couture) Dupuis.

Larry was educated in Canada and subsequently emigrated to the U.S. in the 1950s. In 1956, Larry married the love of his life and wife of 57 years, Pauline Thérèse Riendeau, at the Assumption of the Blessed Mary Church in Canaan, Vermont. They resided in Canaan for slightly over a decade before eventually relocating to the Nashua/Hudson area.

Larry held many professions and worked at various companies during his life. Larry was employed by companies such as Ethan Allen, Centronics, Genicom and Chartwell Properties over the years. Larry also worked as a carpenter and was a self-taught locksmith. Larry also worked on his Uncle Lorrainy Marchessault’s Christmas Tree Farm in Canaan, Vermont, in his earlier years, which he freely claimed was one of the best times of his life. His close connections to Northern Vermont, and many members of the Marchessault family exist to this day. He sold Christmas trees here at our home in Hudson for a number of years in remembrance of those days.

Laurent was a long-time member and supporter of St. Louis de Gonzague Catholic Church in Nashua. He also was a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus, having reached honorary lifetime status in 2011. His faith in his family and in God was constant to the very end of his life.

Larry was a true character. He was sincere. He was honest. He said what he meant, and he meant what he said. He was old-school. He opened doors for people. He shook people’s hands while looking them in the eye when he spoke to them. He loved saying inappropriate things at inappropriate times making people laugh and feel at ease in tough or hard situations. Larry was a bit of a “bon vivant.”

He loved eating out, traveling, car trips, frequenting local “watering holes” (especially the Back Street Bar and Grill in Hudson), and there was always time at the end of a workday for a cold beer, a cigar, or a fine cognac. Larry loved the Red Sox, The Patriots, the Celtics, and most of all the Montreal Canadiens (sorry Bruin’s fans) and one of his most favorite players was the great Jean Beliveau. He loved going to Castro’s Cigars in Nashua, and Suzy’s for breakfast in Hudson. Up until recent years, Larry loved to fish and hunt and was a great outdoorsman. He loved U.S. history, coin collecting, crossword puzzles, and has more tools in his garage than a hardware store. He loved to garden and had sincere reverence for farming and the farmer. He loved this country and the promise that it held and still holds, having become a U.S citizen in 1964. He loved and respected the armed forces and valued the freedoms that they fought and died for.

He loved his grandsons dearly and was proud of them both and was always present at their hockey games and other sporting events. He loved seeing his last name on the back of their hockey jerseys, but he was too humble to admit that. He loved the holidays, loved the decorations, the lights and the numerous New Year’s celebrations at the Marchessault Farm on Todd Hill.

Larry is survived by his trusted and faithful companion of seven years, Lillian Goes, of Hudson; Richard and Jeanne Collopy (sister) of Salem, New Hampshire; Claude Dupuis (brother) of Salem; Fernande Niemi (sister) of Greenville, New Hampshire; and Robert and Liz Graham (sister) of Auburn, Massachusetts; his son, Claude Dupuis and his wife, Teya Dupuis, of Hamburg, New Jersey; two grandchildren (Alex and Nicolas) as well as numerous godchildren, nieces, nephews and many close and sincere friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Pauline Dupuis, of Hudson, and his brother, Léon Dupuis of St. Eustache, Quebec, Canada.

The family also wants to personally thank all those who cared for him in the latter years of his life, namely Dr. Steven Schwartz and the staff at the Southern New Hampshire Memorial Hospital. The same also needs to be said for Home, Health and Hospice Care of Merrimack, New Hampshire. Although your time with him was brief, we cannot express our sincere thanks and gratitude for how you cared for Larry in his final days.

“Tears are not a mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition and of unspeakable love.” – Washington Irving

A visitation for Laurent will be held Thursday, Aug. 4, 2022, from 5-8 p.m. at Zis-Sweeney & St. Laurent Funeral Home, 26 Kinsley St., Nashua, N.H. 03060. A funeral Mass will occur Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, from 10-11 a.m. at St. Aloysius of Gonzaga Parish, 48 W. Hollis St, Nashua, N.H. 03060.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Laurent’s name may be made to Home, Health and Hospice, 7 Executive Park Drive, Merrimack, N.H. 03054.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ZisSweeneyFuneralHome.com for the Dupuis family.