Felix M. DeGrandpre

Felix M. DeGrandpre, 77, of Rindge, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, August 6, 2013, with his wife by his side after a brief battle with cancer. Felix was born in Peterborough, NH on June 22, 1936, son of the late Armand and Ann (Sirois) DeGrandpre. He was a 1954 graduate of Conant High School and had served his country honorably in the U.S. Air Force. Felix had been a manager of the Microwave Division of D.D. Bean in Sons in Jaffrey and he retired as the Plant Manager in 1980. Felix then opened the ‘Pack and Paddle’ sporting goods store in Keene while also starting his own machine shop which he operated from his homes in Jaffrey and Rindge until he died. Felix was a Boy Scout Leader for over 30 years with Troop 33 in Jaffrey and was still serving on the board of review team that appraised all of the Eagle Scout applicants in the Monadnock District. His hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication, and many years of service to scouting locally, at the district level, and at the council level, was recognized in 2002 when he was honored with scouting’s Silver Beaver Award. Felix was also community minded and enjoyed giving back to the towns of Jaffrey and Rindge while he lived in each. He helped the youth in both towns while on the Juvenile Diversion Committee and had also served on the Jaffrey Board of Adjustment. He was a communicant of Saint Patrick Church in Jaffrey and a faithful member of Our Lady of Monadnock Council #8544 Knights of Columbus. Felix was a Past-President of the Rindge Athletic Mens Social Club (RAMS) and belonged to the Rindge Veterans Association, and was honored with the Rindge Citizen of the Year Award. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion. He loved country music, hiking and canoeing. Felix also enjoyed escaping the long New England winters by taking his wife on extended driving trips across the country to Arizona, but he remained a true New England fan of the Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins and Patriots. The times Felix cherished most were spent together with his large family on holidays and special days in the home he and his wife designed together with a view of Mt. Monadnock which was especially dear to both as they had climbed it so often in their lives. Felix was a devoted husband, father, and very proud grandfather, and will be missed by his wife of 25 years, Joan O’Neil Raymond DeGrandpre of Rindge, NH; his children, Cindy and her husband Richard Morton of Nashua, NH, Betsy and her husband Joseph Brochu of Jaffrey, NH, Roy and his wife Michelle DeGrandpre of Amherst, NH, John and his wife Wendi DeGrandpre of New Ipswich, NH, Lisa O’Neil Galante of Jaffrey and William and his wife Robin O’Neil of Bedford, NH; his grandchildren, Melissa Ciani, Brian Ciani, Alyssa DeGrandpre and her fiancé Andrew Crook, Brandon DeGrandpre, Kelsea DeGrandpre, Jordan DeGrandpre, Katiana DeGrandpre, Raphael DeGrandpre, Christine and her husband Jake Leavitt, Katie Brochu, Zachary Galante, Joshua Galante, William Galante, Paige Wojcukiewicz, Dana Kinne, and Finian O’Neil; 4 great-grandchildren, his sisters, Jean Boutwell of Jaffrey, NH, Joan Wydo of Keene, NH and Alice Blanchette of Glencliff, NH; his sister-in-law Jean Raymond of Jaffrey, NH; his brother-in-law Alan and his wife Gale Raymond of Naples, ME, close friend Cheryl Wilder and many nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends. Felix was predeceased by his first wife, Ethel (Mattson) DeGrandpre on March 28, 1984. Friends and family are invited to calling hours on Friday, August 9, 2013 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Cournoyer Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 33 River Street, (Route 202) Jaffrey. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, August 10, 2013 at 11:00 AM at Saint Patrick Church, 89 Main Street, Jaffrey. Rev. Wilfred Deschamps, Pastor of Saint Patrick Church in Jaffrey will officiate. Burial will follow in Saint Patrick Cemetery in Jaffrey. In lieu of flowers, Felix’s family would prefer memorial donations made in his name to the Rindge Athletic Mens Social Club, (R.A.M.S.), P.O. Box 880, Rindge, NH 03461. http://thetributecenter.com/tributeplayer/default.aspx?webcasteventid=2812#/webcast