Charlene B. Desrosiers

WEST STEWARTSTOWN – Charlene Blanche Desrosiers, 59, passed away on Wednesday, June 15, 2016, at the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook, with her loved ones by her side. She was born in Fall River, Mass., on Aug. 3, 1956, and was raised in West Warwick, RI, where she resided for 50 years. She was the fifth of six children to the late Joseph A. and Cecile (Lebeau) Desrosiers, Sr. Charlene attended school from the age of 3 to 21. She worked at the Trudeau Center, a sheltered workshop for the handicapped in Warwick, until she moved to NH at the age of 50. She loved her work there and missed all her friends when she moved north. Charlene moved to Pittsburg, NH, in April of 2007 to live with her sister, Dee, and brother-in-law, Sid Young, when her mother became ill and was no longer able to care for her. Living with Sid and Dee gave Charlene the opportunity to have many new adventures. She attended state fire conventions, community and school events, went snowmobiling, and even rode her first donkey at a donkey-basketball game, just to name a few. She loved camping, especially sitting by the fire, but mostly she loved it because she was with friends. She loved being with all the Youngs, and quickly became part of that family, accepted, loved, and quick to bring a smile. She loved playing cards, board games, puzzles, hooked rugs, sticker books, bingo, bowling, cooking class (as she called it), parties, and arm wrestling. She loved being with people, especially the elderly. She loved music, rocking in her chair, and going out to eat best of all. She loved bingo and went with her mom for years. When she moved north, she went to the Legion on Tuesday evenings with her two friends, Verna and Ida. When she won at bingo, the whole place could hear her yell, “Bingo!!” It just made her day. When she didn’t win, she would tell her sister after she got home, “They called lousy numbers tonight.” Charlene attended the Vershire Program in Colebrook, and eagerly waited for her ride each morning. She loved her jobs shredding papers and doing the laundry for the hospital. At home, she liked helping and liked things neat. She folded laundry, set the table, helped with the dishes, took care of her belongings, and shredded papers (her favorite). All who knew her will remember how she loved her birthday best of all! She looked forward to having a party with all her friends and family. Money was her favorite gift, but she was always happy with every gift she received. As soon as her birthday was over, she would start counting down to her next birthday. Charlene moved to the Coos County Nursing Hospital in W. Stewartstown in September, 2014, due to declining health that could no longer be taken care of at home. She adapted well and loved it there. She touched the hearts of many people and will be missed. She is survived by her siblings, Denise (Sid) Young of Pittsburg, NH, Lorraine (Robert) Washburn of Concord, NH, Pauline (James) Asselin of No. Springfield, Vt., Lionel Desrosiers of Cape May Courthouse, NJ, and Joseph Desrosiers, Jr. (Jamie) of Coventry, RI; as well as 9 nieces and nephews, and 11great-nieces and nephews. Memorial calling hours will be on Thursday, June 23, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook. A memorial service will be held the next day, Friday, June 24, at 11 a.m. at the Farnham Memorial United Methodist Church in Pittsburg. Charlene will be laid to rest with her parents at a later date in the Rhode Island Veteran’s Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Charlene may be made to the Camp Allen, 56 Camp Allen Road, Bedford, NH 03110-6606. Condolences may be offered to the family on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook.

Charlene B. Desrosiers

August 3, 1956 - June 15, 2016