F. André Paquette, 91

GILFORD — F. André Paquette, 91, died peacefully at home on Feb. 6, 2025.

He was born July 30, 1933, in Plymouth, one of 13 children, to the late Ernest J. and Rhenda B. (née Lucier) Paquette.

André was educated in the Ashland public schools and the LaSalette Seminary in Enfield. Prior to pursuing higher education, he served in the Signal Corps, United States Army, in Europe. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Plymouth State College and a master of arts degree in French and linguistics from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

He was a public school teacher of French and Spanish. He served as foreign language director for the Department of Education, State of New Hampshire. He taught at the State University of New York in Plattsburgh, he served as the foreign language director for the Modern Language Association of America and as the first executive director of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. André directed the master's and doctoral degree programs of the Language Schools of Middlebury College in Vermont, Spain, France, Germany and Italy. In 1980, he returned to public education in New Hampshire serving as a principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent of schools. He retired in 1996.

Over the course of his career, André was a member of the Modern Language Association of America, the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, he was chair in 1967, the American Association of Teachers of French, the Association Canado-Americaine, and the American Legion.

André received a National Distinguished Service Award in Foreign Languages and was named a “Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Palmes Academiques” by the Government of France.

André was a past trustee and past president of the Belknap Mill Society. He was a member and chair of the Belknap County Citizens Council on Children and Families. He was a communicant of St. André Bessette Parish, where he served on the finance and buildings and grounds committees, and served as a eucharistic minister. In recent years, he was also instrumental in forming Le Cercle Francais, a social group that met to practice their French-speaking skills and preserve their French heritage.

André and Margaret loved to travel, both domestically and abroad, including several trips to France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Greece and Ireland. Above all, family and friends were paramount to André. He enjoyed spending time with family, including many summers at Newfound Lake with Margaret’s family, Paquette family reunions, and sibling gatherings on both sides of the family.

André is survived by his son, Jean-Pierre Paquette (Kelly) of New London; two daughters, Lisette McCarthy (Ronald Parizo) of Nashua, and Monique Scharlotte (David) of Concord; seven grandchildren, Katherine Smith (Jeff), Elise Paquette, Gabrielle Paquette, Teagan McCarthy (Jessica), Tyler McCarthy (Katelyn), Benjamin Scharlotte (Sydney), and William Scharlotte (Ellie); and five-great grandchildren, whom he adored, Raelynn, Cali, Haisley, Braxden and Dawson.

He is also survived by two brothers, Joseph of Cordele, Georgia, and Ernest of Ashland; one sister, Paula of Franklin; sister-in-law Helen Duchesne of Bristol; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law Rita and Bob Norander of Andover; as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family.

The family would also like to extend their thanks to special friends David Stamps, Joanne Fiorini, and Tom and Linda Peary, who provide much companionship and comfort to him in recent years.

In addition to his parents, André was predeceased by his wife of 57 years, Margaret; sisters Helene Brousseau, Ann Larochelle, Lorette Thibeault and Marie Julie; brothers Bernard, Robert, Richard (Paul), Raymond and Rene; and three grandchildren, Francis, Michelle and Meghan Mary McCarthy.

Calling hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13, in the Carriage House at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 14, at St. André Bessette Parish-Sacred Heart Church, 291 Union Ave., Laconia.

Committal services will be held in the spring at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Laconia.

For those who wish, the family suggests that memorial donations in André’s name may be made payable to the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation for the Belknap Mill Society Fund, 37 Pleasant St., Concord, NH 03301, or online at give.nhcf.org/SupportaSpecificFund.

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, Laconia, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, visit wilkinsonbeane.com.