Pauline Delia (Duperre) Duclos, age 87, died peacefully on April24, 2021 surrounded by her family.The daughter of the late Jean Baptiste and Claire (Paradise) Duperre, she was born in 1933 in Warren, RI. Pauline spent most of her life in Westport, MA enjoying summers on the Watuppa Pondand moving to the Pond permanently in 1960.
Pauline is survived by her four children: John (Kimberly), Peter (Kimberly),and Carol Hegarty (Steven) of Westport, MA, andVictoria Barrett (James) of Tiverton,RI;sister Lucille Stringer (Robert) of Warren, RI; twelve grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, along with several nieces and nephews. In addition to herhusband George and her parents,Pauline was preceded in death by her sister, Doris Vincentof Brunswick, ME.
A graduate of St. Mary’s Academy Bay View, Pauline worked as an executive assistant in the Providence Appliance division of Narragansett Electricin the 1950s until she and George started their family. Pauline spent the next 20 years raising her four children and was often the first to volunteer for theiractivities; sewing, baking or playing the piano. Pauline was a leader for her daughters’ Campfire Girls groups,as well as, a board member for the Greater Fall River Council. Her service earned her the Marion Medal by the Fall River Diocese. An accomplished musician, Pauline sang in the church choir and the New Bedford Choral Societyand served as church organist for Our Lady of Grace Church for several years.
In the early 1980’s,she worked as office manager for the Marine Museum at Fall River. This successful return to the workforce brought Pauline into the computer age, and she didn’t skip a beat when it came time to enter the family business in 1983. She joined her husband in the ownership and management of Duclos Corporation, Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding as Treasurer and HR Manager. Together, they grew the business thatbecame recognized worldwide as the premier builder of small commercial vessels, including, high-speed catamaran ferries, pilot and patrol boats, tugboats, and research vessels. Upon her retirement in 2011, the company had built nearly 400 vessels.
Pauline was married to George for over 65 years. They were best friends, business partners and ardently devoted to each other. Together, theyenjoyedtheir home on the Watuppa Pond, boating along the East Coast on their boat‘Gemini’, and skiing in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.Pauline was the first woman to water-ski on the Watuppa Pond in the 1940s, behind George’s handcrafted speedboat ‘Dragon Bee Hind.’Her favorite things were skiing fast and swimming with her family. It was every grandchild’s right of passage to swim with their Granmere off Gemini.
Pauline showed her family how to make a beautiful and meaningful life; to make the best of all situations, and how to have fun. Family relationships were of utmost importance to her and family harmony became her legacy.
The Duclos family is grateful for the nursing staff, caregivers, and companions at Brookdale Sakonnet Bay of Tiverton, RI, along with other special people for their care and devotion to Pauline during her journey through Alzheimer’s.
Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at Potters Funeral Home on April 30, 2021.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Grace Church in Westport, MA on May 1, 2021 at 10:30 a.m.
Pauline will be laid to rest at Beech Grove Cemetery in Westport, MA.
Memorial donations can be made to United Cerebral Palsy of Rhode Island, 200 Main Street, Suite 210, Pawtucket, RI 02860 or to Our Lady of Grace Church, Building Fund, 569 Sanford Rd., Westport, MA 02790.