Gilford - Surrounded by her family, Elaine Ruth (Bickford) Roucher of 27 Hatch Drive passed away at Lakes Region General Hospital on September 23rd, 2012 after a long illness.
Elaine was born in Laconia April 3rd, 1939 to Myron “Jack” and Ruth (Dean) Bickford and grew up on Edwards Street. Known to her classmates as “Shorty”, she was a graduate of Laconia High School in 1957. Elaine belonged to the Girl’s Athletic Association as a cheerleader and was part of the Class Committee during all four of her high school years. Elaine also belonged to the Prom Committee during her junior year in high school and was a ‘Lakon’ yearbook editor during her senior year. Along with her twin sister Eleanor, Elaine was crowned “Miss Ice-Out” for Lake Winnipesaukee in 1957.
During her teen years, Elaine was employed by Crane Manufacturing Company in Laconia. She then retired to raise her family and later returned to the workforce where she was employed by New Hampshire Ball Bearing, Astro Division, also in Laconia. She was an avid bowler in both the candlepin Mixed Doubles League at the Laconia Bowling Alley and the ten-pin Mixed Doubles League at the Highway Lanes on Court Street in Laconia. Elaine was also a member of the Laconia Country Club on Elm Street in Laconia. During her retirement years, she enjoyed time knitting, quilting and baking, donating most of her whiles to the less fortunate and to fundraisers through the Our Lady of the Lakes Parish. Elaine also volunteered much of her time to the Gilford Public Library. She will be best known as a loving wife and mother.
Elaine is survived by her loving husband of 52 years Edmond P. “Bob” Roucher, Jr. of Gilford, her brothers Herbert “Bud” Fischer and his wife, Dorothy of Antioch, Tennessee and David Bickford and his wife, Carkie of Burlington, Vermont, her daughters Cheryl A. Roucher of Belmont, NH, Karen L. Stecher and her husband Thomas D. of Gilford, NH and Melissa R. Mullen and her husband John M. of Litchfield, NH, her grandchildren Dale P. Morel of Farmington, NH, Blake E. Hanks of Conway, NH, Kaylee A. Whitney of Laconia, NH, Addy L. Harwood and her husband, Brady of Newbury , NH, Adam D. Mullen of Litchfield, NH, Gunnar T. and Beck W. Stecher of Gilford, NH, and her great-grandson, Dominic J. Hanks of Tamworth, NH, along with several nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by her father Myron “Jack” Bickford and her mother Ruth (Dean) Bickford, both of Laconia, her twin sister Eleanor (Bickford) Ramsay of Avon Park, Florida and her son Douglas S. Roucher of Laconia.
Calling hours will be held Thursday, September 27th, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the Carriage House of the Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home , 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH .
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, September 28th, 2012 at the Gilford Community Church, 19 Potter Hill Road, Gilford, NH. For those who wish, memorial contributions may be made to the Gilford Public Library, 31 Potter Hill Road, Gilford, NH 03249. For those wishing to attend, a brief farewell ceremony will be held graveside at the Sacred Heart Cemetery on Garfield Street in Laconia, followed by a Celebration of Life at 1:00 PM at the Steak House at Christmas Island, 630 Weirs Boulevard, Laconia, NH. Please bring your favorite memories, stories and photos for all to share.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH is in charge of the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.