Laconia---Dorothy M. Lessard, a lifelong resident of Laconia, died while surrounded by family on Tuesday, August 28, 2012, aged 75, in her home on Strafford Street, only a few hundred yards from where she was born to Everett C. and Lillian (Jordan) Lord on March 15, 1937. Dottie was an outgoing woman who had hundreds of friends in the area, graduated as class secretary of Laconia High School in 1955, and in her children’s estimation, seemed to know everyone in town.
She worked for many years in the banking industry, rising from the position of teller at Indian Head Bank in Lakeport Square, to branch manager of Belknap Bank & Trust in Belmont, and vice president of human resources for Mooney Construction in Belmont. Dottie also worked at Young’s Auto Sales of Laconia during her semi-retirement.
Dottie’s second husband, Peter “Beau” Lessard, a former mayor of Laconia, predeceased her in 2009, as did a sister, Pat (Lord) Teeters, in 2011, and an infant sister, Joanne.
She is survived by two brothers, Ray Lord of Wolfeboro and Doug Lord of Maidstone, Vt.; her first husband, Carl LaFond of Laconia and their five children: Debbie Westcott of Winter Haven, Fla., Tammy LaFond of Penacook; Scott LaFond of East Longmeadow, Mass.; Kathryn Berry of Pembroke, Mass.; and Curt LaFond of Montgomery, Ala.; and two stepchildren, Peter Lessard of Bow and Claudia Lieby of Saline, Mich. Dottie was a grandmother to seven, step-grandmother to five, great grandmother to two, and aunt to many nieces and nephews.
Dottie enjoyed spending time at the ocean and had just returned from a trip to the Maine Coast when she passed away. She also loved watching birds and playing Pitch with Beau and family.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia will host her wake on Thursday, August 30, 2012 from 6:00-8:00pm using the Carriage House entrance.
A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, August 31, 2012 at 10:00am at St. Joseph’s Church, 30 Church Street, Laconia.
In lieu of flowers, Dottie requested that friends consider donating to Central New Hampshire VNA & Hospice, 780 North Main Street, Laconia, NH 03246 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142.
Her cremated remains are to be interred beside her husband, Beau, at a private service in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Laconia, in a wooden urn handcrafted by her son in law, David Berry.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.