Chester– Colonel (Ret) Albert W. Hamel, 85, died October 12, 2015 at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation and Nursing Center after a year of declining health.
He was born in Lowell, MA on January 24, 1930, the son of Albert X. and Marie Anne (Savard) Hamel. He attended schools in Bucksport and Bar Harbor, ME at the Oblate Seminaries, and graduated from St. Anselm College in 1954. After 28 years in the Army, he retired as a Colonel in 1980.
He held membership in the Knights of Columbus, the American-Canadian Genealogical Society, the Franco American Center, l’Association des Familles Hamel, the Granite State African Violet Society, and the NH Orchid Society.
He served as a Selectman for the town of Chester for one year and as a Representative from Chester to the NH House of Representatives for six years.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Constance M. (Hebert) Hamel of Chester, 2 sons, Albert L. Hamel and his wife, Miriam Arroyo of Lynn, MA, Denis W. Hamel of Bowie, MD, 3 daughters, Julie A. Wagner and her husband, LTC (Ret) Richard A. Wagner of Clinton, NY, Adele J. Remillard of Jaffrey, Lise M. Hamel and her husband, Scott M. Arthurs of Bradley, ME, daughter-in-law Catherine Hamel of Annapolis, MD, 15 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents and a beloved son-in-law, Thomas R. Remillard.
The family wishes to thank the Staff at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Jaffrey, NH for their loving care and support.
Calling hours will be on Friday from 4 to 8 PM at J. N. Boufford & Sons Funeral Home, 110 Bridge St., Manchester, NH. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated by Msgr. Anthony Frontiero at the Abbey Church at St. Anselm College on Saturday at 10 AM. Committal prayers and military honors will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in E. Chelmsford, MA at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Anselm College, 100 St. Anselm Dr. Manchester, NH 03102, the American-Canadian Genealogical Society, 4 S. Elm St, P.O. Box 6478, Manchester NH 03108, or to Good Shepherd Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, 20 Plantation Dr., Jaffrey, NH 03452.
For more information and online guestbook please visit www.bouffordfuneralhome.com.