Romeo P. Duranleau

Mr. Roméo P. Duranleau, 90, of West Stewartstown, NH, passed away Saturday morning, February 18, 2006, at the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital. Mr. Duranleau was born October 3, 1915, in St. Herménégilde de Barford, P.Q., Canada, son of the late Joseph and Albertine (Bergeron) Duranleau. Mr. Duranleau attended St. Albert’s School, and as a young man worked for Brown Company in the woods. During the Great Depression he worked for the CCC, building the 3rd Connecticut Lake Dam and Murphy Dam. For a short period of time, he worked at the Beecher Falls filling station with plans of buying the business until he was drafted by the United States Army. He served honorably from 1940-1945, and was proud of his service in the 3rd Army Division and the Battle of the Bulge. He also often spoke of his tenure as a Guard of Honor for General Patton. After his return to the North Country, he owned and operated The Spa Restaurant with his brother, Armand, from 1946-1972. He also married Alida (Toussaint) Duranleau on October 7, 1947. His other business ventures included the Norton Drive-In and the Twin Mountain Drive-In, and the Maurice & Claude, Ltd. road construction company. Mr. Duranleau was an active lifetime member of the Northland American Legion & Auxiliary, Post #47 of Canaan, VT; a former member of the Knights of Columbus; and a committed member of St. Albert’s Parish where he was involved in all aspects of the church, including the building of the church. In his retirement, he enjoyed fishing, gardening, wood working, and was an avid cribbage player. He spent countless hours helping his daughter and son-in-law build and landscape their home in Vermont. He was a loving father, grandfather and brother, and will be remembered for his commitment to his family, friends and church. Mr. Duranleau is survived by his son, Michel Duranleau and wife, Susan, of Loganville, GA; three daughters, Suzanne McNeal and husband, Barry, of Newport, VT, Denise Duranleau of West Stewartstown, NH, and Joanne Donovan and husband, Gerald, of Tewksbury, MA; a brother, Anatole Duranleau of Barre, VT; two sisters, Geraldine LeCours of Hartland, VT, and Laura Duchesne of West Stewartstown; a brother-in-law, Jack Oakley of Sherbrooke, P.Q., Canada; five grandchildren, Tara-Sue Morrisey, Gavin McNeal, Samantha Duranleau, Nick Duranleau and John Donovan; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Mr. Duranleau is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Alida (Toussaint) Duranleau; three brothers, Armand Duranleau, Denis Duranleau and Joséphat Duranleau; and two sisters, Armande McHenry and Yolanda Laduc At Mr. Duranleau’s request, there will be no calling hours. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, February 22, 2006, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Albert’s Parish with The Reverend Craig Cheney as celebrant. An interment service will be held on Saturday, June 24th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Albert’s Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy in Mr. Duranleau’s memory may be made to St. Albert’s Church or to St. Albert’s Cemetery Fund, c/o The Reverend Craig Cheney, P.O. Box 187, Beecher Falls, VT 05902, or the Coos County Nursing Hospital Activities Department, P.O. Box 10, West Stewartstown, NH 03597.

Romeo P. Duranleau

October 3, 1915 - February 18, 2006