Laconia – Benoit Alfred Champagne, 86, of 406 Court Street, formerly of 119 Lafayette Street, died on Friday morning, January 19, 2007 at St Francis Healthcare Center after a long illness.
Ben was the son of the late David and Florida (Gaulin) Champagne. He was born in Black Lake, Quebec, Canada on March 14, 1920 and had been a resident of Laconia since 1948. As a young man, he was an avid hockey and tennis player. He served in the Canadian army during World War II. After the war he married Madeleine Paquet of Black Lake. They emigrated to the United States in1948 and built a house on Lafayette Street where he continued to live until illness forced a move.
Prior to his retirement in 1984, he was a salesman for Robbins Auto Parts for 17 years. He also worked at Cantin Chevrolet and Scott & Williams. He was a communicant at Sacred Heart Church and volunteered for many activities – Cub Scout leader for eleven years, the parish council, an actor in French language plays and president of La Societe St. Jean de Baptiste. He loved woodworking, gardening and tennis. He was an enthusiastic tennis player until an illness intervened in 1991. He’s a life member of the Gilford Hills Tennis Center.
Ben was predeceased by two brothers, one sister and two infant sons.
He is survived by Madeleine (Paquet) Champagne, his wife of 63 years, a son Marc and his wife Rachel of Newport, NH, a son Martin and his wife Sue Ann of Newfields, NH, two grandsons Jeffrey and Jesse also of Newfields, NH, a brother-in-law Robert Valliere and his wife Gisele of Laconia and many nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Chistian Burial was celebrated Tuesday, January 23, 2007 at Sacred Heart Church, 291 Union Avenue, Laconia at 11:00 a.m. Family and friends were invited to attend a lunch reception immediately following the mass at the Parish Center. There were no visiting hours. Burial will take place in the family lot at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Garfield Street, Laconia in the spring.
For those who wish, the family suggests expressions of sympathy in Ben’s name may be made to the St. Francis Healthcare Center Activity Fund, 406 Court Street, Laconia, NH 03246 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN, 38101-1942, or visit www.stjude.org/tribute