Theresa « Terry » Jeanne (Dionne) Desroche 87 of Methuen died Wednesday September 28, 2011 at her home with her son Michael and his long time companion Kathleen Ann Therrien who was her friend and caregiver by her side.
Terry was raised in Nashua NH and later moved to Methuen where she resided for the past 50 years. She She suffered a lenthy illness from Alzheimer’s and Diabetes. She was born on February 18, 1924 in Nashua, New Hampshire to William & Georgianna Dionne. She was a long time foster parent for the Catholic Charities and had 98 children and was often seen walking with them. During her senior years she returned to school to get her GED. She was married on May 4, 1946 to the late Arthur Joseph Desroche where they shared 40 years of marriage. She worked in Jogel’s Shoe Shop in Lawrence. She knitted sweaters, booties and afghan’s for all of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She regularly attended Mount Carmel before its closing and Saint Monica’s. She was a supporter of the American Diabetes Association. She also supported many organizations including a 14 mile bike a thon, a walk a thon benefiting March of Dimes Association, the American Red Cross of Greater Lawrence earning an award for the amount of rare blood type she had given throughout the years. Her charity work will continue through all the lives she touched through the years.
She is survived by her four children George Arthur Desroche and wife Jane of Goffstown, NH, Robert Ronald Desroche and Lauri of Manchester, NH, Diane Adrienne Marie (Desroche) Trevors and husband Daniel of Hertford, NC, and Michael Thomas Desroche and his companion Kathleen Ann Therrien of Methuen, MA. She was grandmother to thirteen, Kristen Cote, Robert Desroche, Laura Jayne Jenkins and husband Scott, Kelly Healy, Donna Latham and husband Scott, Daniel George Trevors Jr. and April, SPC, Kyle Desroche who served his country in Afghanistan, , Ryan Desroche, Kaitlyn Erin Ford and husband Damien, Jason Leonard Merrill, Nicki Rose Merrill Harmonie Brothers, Rina Buote and husband Matthew, Kyle Whitehead. 13 great grandchildren, Jeremy Arthur Cote, Haily Lynn Gauthier, Logan Calvin Gauthier, Rhiannon Holly Gauthier, Joshua Alan Cote, Nicholas Paul Cote, Tyler Owen Jenkins, Joshua Carter Jenkins, Avery Jordyn Trevors, Isabella Ivy Jones, Erika Leigh Merrill, Annaliese Noelle Trevors , Bryan Anthony Desroche Trevor Matthew Buote; a sister Adrienne Hilda Diggins of Nashua NH and a large number of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two grandchildren Eric Scott and Keith Desroche and six brothers and six sisters, Joseph Paul Dionne, Phillip George Dionne, Agnes Dorothy L’Heureux, Norman Alphee Dionne, Claire Irene Martin, Pauline Annette Leveque, Roger Dionne, Imelda Dionne, Stella Anita Ledwich, Joseph Dionne, William Dionne, and Florance Dionne.
ARRANGEMENTS: Family and friends may call on Friday from 4;00p.m. – 8:00p.m. at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, Inc., 233 Lawrence Street Methuen, Ma 01844. Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday at 10;00a.m. in St. Monica’s Church in Methuen, MA. Burial will follow in the Elmwood Cemetery also in Methuen, MA. Memorials can be made to the American Diabetes Association 330 Congress Street 5th Floor Boston, MA 02210. For directions or condolences please visit www.pollardfuneralhome.com