Norman D. Dupuis, 85

LACONIA — Norman “Duke” D. Dupuis, 85, of 21 Academy Square, died peacefully Wednesday, August 24, 2005 at his home surrounded by family and friends. Duke was born July 6, 1920 in Pittsfield, the son of Joseph and Dorilla LaPlante-Dupuis.

Duke was a lifelong resident of New Hampshire. He attended school in Laconia, but as was common for

those days, left early to work to assist his family. He drove a delivery truck for Lakes Region Beverage

for many years. Following that, he worked as a bartender at the Rod and Gun, then the Elks, then for twenty years at Aavid Thermal Technologies until retiring at age 79.

Duke was a communicant of St. Joseph Church, Laconia.

Survivors include his wife, Jean Lapre-Dupuis of Laconia; four sons, Edward and his wife, Joanne, of Hillsborough, Robert and his wife, Pamela, of Leominster, Mass., Richard and his significant other, Brandy Cilley, of Ormond Beach, Florida, and Rowdy and his wife, Tammy, of Derby, Vt.; ten grandchildren, Michael, Billy, Dean, Nicolas, Camille, Adam, Richard II, Mathew Woodworth, Aaron and Chad; one sister, Ora Alaniz, of Baytown,Texas; multiple nieces and nephews; and countless friends throughout the community. He was predeceased by his parents, several siblings and his first wife, Dorothy LeCour-Dupuis.

Of Duke, his family states: “Duke was a worker, active in various community organizations, most notably the Elks of Laconia. He would often engage in contentious conversations about the various topics of the day. He battled cancer with the same ferocity he battled his way through life, always doggedly sticking to basic values as his thermometer of right and wrong.”

Calling Hours will be held on Sunday, August 28, 2005, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the Carriage House of the

Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia. The Laconia Lodge of Elks No 876 will conduct a Session of Sorrow at 7:00 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, August 29, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Church, 30 Church Street, Laconia, NH. Rev. Gary J. Kosmowski, Pastor of the Church, will be the celebrant. Burial will be in the family lot in St. Theresa’s Cemetery, Orleans, Vermont.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Community Health & Hospice, Inc., 780 North Main Street, Laconia, NH 03246 or the Elks National Foundation c/o BPOE Lodge 876, 1 Gilford Place, Gilford, NH 03249.

Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, is in charge of the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.