Louise 'Lou' La Saulce

Lou (Louise) La Saulce, 95, of Jaffrey, Peterborough and Keene, died at The Woodward Home in Keene on Wednesday May 2, 2012. She had resided at The Woodward for the past 30 years. She was born in East Jaffrey, NH on August 21, 1916, daughter of Prosper and Ernestine (Pelletier) La Saulce. She graduated from Conant High School in Jaffrey and Dresser Business School in Keene. During her residency in Peterborough, she had held three jobs simultaneously: 37 years as private secretary to Chartered Life Underwriters; 36 ½ years as head cashier and manager of Community Theatre; and 3 years as part-time bookkeeper and cashier of Travel Toggery, a woman’s apparel store. She was very active in Saint Peter’s Church in Peterborough. For 25 years she taught Christian Confraternity Doctrine (CCD) to children of all grades. For several years, she trained Altar Servers and Lectors. She was elected the first female Eucharistic Minister and Lector in St. Peter’s Parish. As a lay representative of Saint Peter’s Parish in Peterborough, she visited the sister parish in St. Pierre in Haiti. The incredible and absolute poverty which she experienced in that country brought on a severe culture shock. Her gifts to Saint Peter’s Church included the Carillon in memory of her parents and the Altar of Sacrifice donated in her father’s memory. During the rationing of World War II, she spent a summer digging up a beautiful big front lawn and tending, for several years, a vegetable garden for the owner of the boarding house where she lived. For 10 years she volunteered at Pheasant Wood Nursing home, primarily in the Activities Room and feeding the disabled. In 1980, Lou took her “most memorable and uplifting” trip. She traveled to Rome and Jerusalem with her sister and Fr. Charles DesRuisseaux. Lou retired to Keene in 1982 and enjoyed living at The Woodward, then classified as a retirement home. During those leisure years, walking proved her one love and hobby, inherited from her father, a great outdoorsman. While walking, her meditations were fused with faith and nature. She had a special affinity for animals, especially Poodles and Cats. In 2008, at the age of 92, Lou participated in 4 races, all for a good cause, including the Cranberry Run. Survivors include one brother, Maurice J. La Saulce of Keene, NH; a niece, Anne I. Callahan and her husband Gerald D. Callahan of Troy, NH; a nephew, Joseph Castellucci of West Palm Beach, Florida; five grandnieces; one grandnephew; two cousins. Two sisters, Irene Masse and Rose Castellucci died earlier and a brother died in infancy. She was also predeceased by Lou’s best and most loyal friend, Barbara T. Jones of Keene. Barbara along with her two poodles, JJ and Cindy helped to sustain Lou for more than 25 years.

Burial will follow at the La Saulce family lot in Saint Patrick Cemetery in Jaffrey.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in Lou’s memory to Saint Peter's Church of the Devine Mercy Parish, 18 Vine Street, Peterborough, NH 03458.

Friends and family are warmly invited to attend calling hours Thursday, May 10 at 9:30 AM at Cournoyer Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 33 River Street, Jaffrey, NH 03452

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday May 10, 11:00 AM at Saint Peter's Church of the Devine Mercy Parish, 18 Vine Street, Peterborough. Personal friend Rev. Charles DesRuisseaux of Manchester will be the celebrant.