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Father Richard P. Tetu
October 13, 2019

Obituary



On Sunday, October 13, 2019 the Reverend Richard P. Tetu was called to his rest and to the glory of the Resurrection promised by the Lord.  He was 75 years old.

Father Richard was born on March 24, 1944 in Manchester, New Hampshire. Richard was the son of Robert and Alice Tetu. As a youngster, he attended St. Anthony Grammar School. He was ordained a priest on May 17, 1969 by the Most Reverend Ernest J. Primeau, S.T.D., at Saint Joseph Cathedral in Manchester.  Father Tetu studied at Saint Anselm College, and then he completed his ecclesiastical studies at the Seminary of St. Charles Borromeo, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada and Our Lady of Angels Seminary, Albany, NY.

Father Tetu named associate pastor of Holy Rosary Parish, Rochester and he served as Administrator in the following parishes:  St. Joseph Parish, Laconia, St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, Tilton; St. Agnes Parish, Ashland; St. John the Baptist Parish, Manchester; St. Anthony Parish of Padua, Manchester; St. Peter Parish, Farmington; St. Mary Parish, Hillsboro; St. Matthew Parish, Windham; Parish of the Resurrection, Nashua; St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Litchfield; St. Joseph Parish, Claremont; St. Mary Parish, Rollinsford, St. Martin Parish, Somersworth; St. Joseph Parish, Epping; Our Lady of Mercy Parish, Merrimack; Blessed John XXIII Parish, Nashua.

Father Tetu was named pastor of St. Peter Parish in Walpole in June 1992.  He also served as Director of Christian Life Centers in Berlin, Keene and Laconia.  He served as Chaplain to the Laconia State School, St. Charles Home in Rochester, Trinity High School, Manchester and the Youth Development Center in Manchester.  Father Tetu also served as part-time Campus Minister to Trinity High School and Bishop Brady High School. He also studied for and received several degrees in Canon Law including a Licentiate in Canon Law and then served as Associate Judicial Vicar and Judge of the Diocesan Tribunal Office. 

During his retirement, Father Tetu remained actively engaged in parish ministry. 

Family members include his brother Emile Tetu and his wife Sue and his sister Pauline and her husband Pierre Robitaille. He is also survived by seven nephews, two nieces, several great nieces and nephews. Richard had several close friends who visited him regularly through his last years of medical problems. Th family and friends are grateful for the caring services provided by the Mount Carmel nursing staff for over two years and for the hospice care received from Home, Health and Hospice Care since June.
 

Father Tetu will lie in repose on Wednesday, October 16, 2019 at Saint Joseph Cathedral, 145 Lowell Street, Manchester, N.H. from 9:00 a.m. till 9:45 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00a.m.   The Most Reverend Peter A. Libasci, Bishop of Manchester, will preside. The Rite of Committal will be at Mount Calvary in, Manchester, New Hampshire. The J. N. Boufford & Sons Funeral Home at 110 Bridge Street in Manchester, New Hampshire has care of the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Priests Retirement Fund, c/o Diocese of Manchester, 153 Ash St. Manchester, NH 03104.

For more information and online guestbook please visit www.bouffordfuneralhome.com.

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J. N. Boufford & Sons Funeral Home
110 Bridge Street
Manchester, NH 03101
603-625-6436 / 603-625-8234