Pauline A. E. Cooper, 87

LACONIA — It is with sorrow beyond words that the children of Pauline Alice Eugenia (nee LaBarre) Cooper, 87, share that she passed into eternity on April 9, 2025.

Affectionately known as “Polly,” she was born on May 14, 1937, in Worcester, Massachusetts, the daughter of the late Joseph Agapit LaBarre and Blanche Azama (née Therrien) LaBarre. She grew up in Worcester with her older sister, Blanche, and graduated from Holy Name High School in 1955. That same year, she married James Russel Cooper. Soon after, they moved to New Hampshire, where Polly would spend the remaining years of her life. In 1962, the family settled in Bristol, where her children were raised and educated. She later lived in Concord and Laconia, after her children were grown.

Pauline was a woman of many talents and wide-ranging interests. In Bristol, she was an active member of the Pasquaney Garden Club and delighted in growing flowers and creating arrangements — many of which adorned St. Timothy’s and Our Lady of the Lake Catholic churches. She also sang in the Our Lady of the Lake folk music group. As part of the Peter Sleeper Players, she lent her skills as a talented seamstress by creating costumes. She also provided props and even performed in a few roles.

As a 4-H Club leader, she taught young women to sew, knit, crochet and do other types of needlework — many of whom fondly recall her as their mentor to this day. While her youngest children were in high school, she earned her real estate license and served the Bristol area.

After moving to Concord, Polly worked as an event planner for the March of Dimes and as an administrative assistant for Citizens Bank. Upon retirement, she relocated to Laconia, where she remained active in service: as a eucharistic minister in the St. Andre Bessette Parish at Sacred Heart Church, as a volunteer at St. Vincent de Paul, and as secretary for Opechee Shores Condominium Association. In her 80s, she was named president and chair of the board of the Lakes Region Wellness Center, leading the organization through the transition of Lakes Region General Hospital to Concord Hospital-Laconia.

Pauline deeply loved her children and their families. She had an unshakable faith in God and was a devoted Catholic all her life. She took great pride in her French heritage and had a lifelong affection for cats.

Polly is survived by her children, Deborah Blount and her husband William, James Cooper and his wife Kimberly, Christine Huntoon and her husband Bruce, Denise Spencer and her husband Rodney “Bill”, David Cooper and his wife Suzanne; her older sister, Blanche Lagace; 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, April 25, at St. Andre Bessette Parish — Sacred Heart Church, 291 Union Ave. A visiting hour will precede the service at 10 a.m., also at the church. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery. Reception information will be provided at the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Andre Bessette Parish – Sacred Heart Church (in the name of Pauline Cooper), 277 Union Ave., Laconia NH 03246, or the New Hampshire Humane Society, P.O. Box 572, Laconia, NH 03247 (in honor of Pauline Cooper).

The family extends heartfelt thanks for your love and support.

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, visit wilkinsonbeane.com.