Joseph P. Blais

November 24, 1922 - June 8, 2016

LEMINGTON, VT — Joseph P. Blais, 93, of Lemington, passed away on Wednesday morning, June 8, 2016, at the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook, after a long period of declining health. He was born in St. Herménègilde, Qué., on Nov. 24, 1922, a son to the late James and Emma (Bergeron) Blais. He was raised in St. Hermenegilde and later moved to Colebrook with his oldest brother. Joe served with honor in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater during World War II. It was during a visit to Coaticook with his brother that he met his future wife. They were married in Coaticook, and later made their home in Colebrook and then Lemington, Vt. Joe worked for the Nugent Motor Co. for 47 years, transporting fuel from Portland to Colebrook. When not on the road, he worked as a mechanic in Nugent’s garage and at the filling station. Joseph loved his vegetable garden every summer, and he enjoyed walks in the woods with his children in their younger days. He enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles and playing cribbage with his granddaughter. He had a wonderful sense of humor that would make anyone laugh, and he and his wife were always busy doing something to help someone else. He leaves behind his wife of 65 years, Annette (Couture) Blais of Lemington; three children, Donald Blais of Austin, Tex., Diane West of Williston, Vt., and Patrick Blais and husband Warren Adams of Washington, D.C.; and three grandchildren, Amanda, Natalie and Brendan West. He is preceded in death by two sons, Norman and Raymond; two brothers, Harvey and Jean Blais; and a sister, Gratia Roy. Calling hours will be on Sunday, June 12, 2016, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held the next day, Monday, June 13, at 11 a.m. at St. Brendan’s Catholic Church in Colebrook with The Rev. Craig Cheney as celebrant. A graveside committal service with naval honors will be at a later date at St. Brendan’s Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Mr. Blais may be made to the 45th Parallel EMS, 46 Ramsey Road, Colebrook, NH 03576. 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, Colebrook, NH.