Hervey Durocher, 69, of 448 Charles Bancroft Highway, Litchfield, died at his home on Monday, July 19, 2004, surrounded by his devoted family. He courageously battled pancreatic cancer.
He was the owner of Durocher Farm, a pick-your-own blueberry and raspberry operation in Litchfield. He also grew pumpkins for the wholesale trade andfor 26 years had operated a pick-your-own strawberry operation, retiring from that segment of his business in 2002.
He and his wife, Joan (Mulhern) Durocher, his partner in the farmingoperation, were married for nearly 39 years.
Mr. Durocher was born in Nashua on Jan. 4, 1935. He was the eldest of eight children born to the late Hervey and Marie (Paré) Durocher. His family moved from Nashua to Litchfield when he was 8, and he and his siblings workedalongside their parents on their family farm.
He was a graduate of Infant Jesus Elementary School in Nashua and from Nashua High School. He looked forward to attending his 50th High School class reunion in September. He obtained a bachelor's degree in accounting from Bentley College. He had served as a town auditor for Litchfield during his college years.
Prior to starting his farm in 1976 , he worked as an accountant for Agway Inc. in Syracuse, N.Y., and as a produce buyer for the P&C grocery chain in White River Junction, Vt. He lived in Lebanon, NH from 1973 - 1985 and served as a trustee of the Lebanon Public Library.
From 1992 to 1998 he was a volunteer member of the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension Advisory Council for Hillsborough County. More recently, he was a member of the Litchfield Farmland Preservation Committee.
Mr. Durocher pioneered narrow-row strawberry cultivation in Litchfield and also drip irrigation for berry crops. In April, he was honored as "Cooperator of the Year" by the Hillsborough County Conservation District for his conservation and other farm management practices.
He was a member of St. Jude's Church in Londonderry and served on the church 's tithing committee. In addition to his community service, he enjoyed traveling, digital photography, and spending time with his children and grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his sister-in-law, Pamela (Bellefeuille) Durocher, who died on May 26, 2000.
He is survived by his wife and by a son and daughter-in-law, William and Miae Durocher of Derry; two daughters and sons-in-law, Elizabeth and Thomas Hannah of Hampstead, and Kristina and Gregory Lamers of Haverhill, Ma.;three granddaughters, Lillian and Camelia Hannah of Hampstead, and Isabella Lamers of Haverhill, Ma.; a grandson, Hervé Durocher of Derry, and a step granddaughter, Angela Anthony of Derry; three brothers and a sister-in-law,Raymond Durocher of Litchfield, Maurice Durocher of Nashua, and David and Janet Durocher of Litchfield; four sisters and a brother-in-law, Claudette Durocher and Cecile Durocher, both of Litchfield, Claire Durocher of Lexington, Ma., and Denise and Michael Clark of Milford; several aunts and uncles; many nephews, nieces and cousins.
Following cremation, memorial calling hours will be held on Friday July 23rd from 5 - 8pm in Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 290 Mammoth Rd., Londonderry. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:00am in St. Jude Parish, 435 Mammoth Rd., Londonderry. (Family and friends will gather at the church.) Burial will follow in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Nashua. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to NH Catholic Charities, 215 Myrtle St., Manchester, NH 03101. To view an online memorial, send a condolence or for more information please visit www.peabodyfuneralhome.com