BOSCAWEN — Frances Despres, 85, passed away on Jan. 6, 2026, at the Merrimack County Nursing Home in Boscawen.
Frances was born on Feb. 12, 1940, in Norwalk, Connecticut, the daughter of Joseph and Frances Palinkas.
She worked at the Laconia State School as a caregiver. She enjoyed making a difference and connecting with her clients. Many years ago, while raising seven children, she drove a school bus for the Danbury, Connecticut, school system. She savored the special finds at tag sales every weekend while also attending to her gardens. During the summer you could find her swimming in the pool with her beloved dogs Jake and Harley.
Frances played a great game of poker along with many morning backgammon games with her husband. For all that knew Fran, you knew to beware of food fights at any barbecue.
Frances is survived by her children, Dennis and Rhonda Despres, Roberta Broussard, Denise and Denis Laplante, Robert and Jennifer Despres, Elizabeth and Keith Mcbey, George Despres, and stepdaughter Deborah Brown; 20 grandchildren, Tara, Chrissy, Michelle, Ray, James, Michael, Justin, Kathryn, Denise, Brianna, Samantha, Stephanie, Jessica, Nicole, Christopher, Ryan, Lorissa, Amy, Aidan and Thomas; three sisters, Maryann Palinkas, Jean Mones and Patricia Hope. Frances is predeceased by her beloved husband Robert R. Despres, son Raymond Despres, brothers John and Joseph Palinkas, stepdaughter Jeannette Despres, and stepsons Robert S. Despres and Robert Wolfegang.
A calling hour will be held from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 16, in the Carriage House at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated also at 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 16, at St. Andre Bessette Parish at Sacred Heart Church, 291 Union Ave., Laconia.
Burial will take place in the spring at New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Hwy.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, visit wilkinsonbeane.com.
(0) entries
Sign the guestbook.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.