Constance G. Desmarais

CONSTANCE Connie G. DESMARAIS, 78, of Prospect Street, in Jaffrey died peacefully at her home on Saturday November 24, 2007, following a long and courageous battle with cancer.She was born on July 31, 1929 in Greenville, NH daughter of the late Antonio and Josephine (Caron) Ouellette.She was a 1947 graduate of Conant High School in Jaffrey where she was valedictorian of her class. She also had attended the University of New Hampshire in Durham.Connie worked for several years at the Monadnock Ledger and was also employed as a secretary at D.D. Bean and Sons Company in Jaffrey.When her daughters were young, she was active in the PTA and Brownies.Connie was a life long resident of Jaffrey; she married her high school sweetheart, Raymond J. Desmarais on February 12, 1949.In addition to her husband of 58 years, she is survived by her three daughters; Donna L. Gniffke of Crystal, Minnesota, Kathie I. Zettervall and her husband Lawrence of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Linda A. Kramar of Wolfeboro, NH; her six grandchildren: Jeremy Gniffke, Gregory Kramar, Amy Kramar Goebel, and Sara, Ann and Eric Zettervall; two great grandchildren: Emma and Derek Goebel; five sisters Jeannette A. St. George of Lancaster, MA, Rachel S. Walsh of Hanson, MA, Phyllis L. Gill of Scituate, MA, Doreen P. Walsh of Placerville, California, and Celeste I. Colmer of Lompoc, California; two brothers Richard A. Ouellette of Jaffrey and Bruce M. Ouellette of Dewey, Arizona; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.Her parents and her sister Lorraine E. Slagle predeceased her.

Burial will be in St. Patrick Cemetery in Jaffrey.

Family and friends are warmly invited to call at the Cournoyer Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 33 River Street, Jaffrey on Wednesday from 5:00PM to 8:00PM.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday at 11:00AM in St. Patrick Church, 89 Main Street, Jaffrey. Rev. Wilfred H. Deschamps, pastor will officiate.