Joseph V. Desmarais, Sr., 82, of Gorham and formerly of Dummer, NH, passed away on January 12, 2016 at the Country Village Nursing Home. He was born in Fall River, MA on December 30, 1933 the son of Andre A. and Ellen (Lyons) Desmarais and was raised there. He served in the US Navy during the Korean Conflict on the USS Fessenden and upon discharge, returned to Fall River where he married and spent 20 years as a lineman for Fall River Electric. In 1973, he followed his dream to run a dairy farm and moved to Norton, VT. When he left the farm, he followed his passion to re-enter line work and he worked for over 40 years for several utility contractors. He had resided in Dummer from 1979 to 2013 when he moved to Gorham. Joe’s hobbies were woodworking, traveling and enjoying boating on Lake Umbagog with his family. Above all, he cherished his ten children and the time spent with them.
Family includes his wife of 63 years Lorraine T. (Cote) Desmarais, the love of his life and together they raised their 10 children; his children Joann Desmarais and husband Joe Gochie of Colebrook, Susan Marino and husband Joseph of Milan, Patricia LeSage and husband Mitch of Berkley, MA, William Desmarais and fiancée Angela Johnson of Milan, Peggy Bisson and husband Jimmy of Milan, Andre Desmarais of Milan, John Desmarais and wife Jaclyn of Milan, Melissa Desmarais and fiancée Kevin Couture of Berlin and Ann Marie Desmarais and fiancée Shawn Laflamme of Concord, VT; 24 grandchildren; great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; sister Jean Quigley and husband Dave of Rehoboth, MA; niece, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by a son Joseph V. Demarais, Jr., grandchildren Kevin Rougeau and Jason Cambra and a great grandchild Tanner.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday January 22, 2016 at 10 AM at St. Anne Church of Good Shepherd Parish. Interment will be in the St. Kieran Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call at the Bryant Funeral Home, 180 Hillside Ave., Berlin on Thursday January 21 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 PM.