Frederick J. Piche, 82, of 199 Gilford Avenue died May 23, 2002 at the Lakes Region General Hospital after a short illness. He was born in Laconia on December 22, 1919, the son of Frank and Josephine (Roux) Piche. A lifelong resident of Laconia, he attended LaSalette Seminary and introduced skiing to the curriculum.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the 10th Mountain Division, a special all volunteer unit that trained for two years in cold weather and mountain warfare at Camp Hale, Colorado. The division was famous for it’s assault on Riva Ridge in Italy and was memorialized in a motion picture about the conflict. He was awarded a Bronze Star and was the recipient of battle stars.
Prior to his retirement, he was employed as a yard conductor for the Boston & Maine Railroad in Concord. He was a lifelong member of the 10th Mountain Division Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.
Fred is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Lorette (Cormier) Piche ; a son Ron Frederick Piche and his wife Kris ; a daughter Diane Rueffert and her husband Ken ; two grandsons, Shawn Rueffert and Casey Piche; a granddaughter, Amy Rueffert; two brothers, Vincent Piche of Kenosha Wisconsin and Eli Piche of Ossipee NH; a sister, Alice Shost of Lebanon ME and many nieces and nephews.
Calling hours were in the Simoneau & Lambert Funeral Home, 139 Church St. on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in Sacred Heart Church, 291 Union Avenue on Monday at Noon. Rev. Adrien Longchamps, Pastor will be the celebrant. Burial followed in Sacred Heart Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Sacred Heart Memorial Trust, 291 Union Ave., Laconia NH 03246. Timothy C. Molan and David L. Furber were the funeral directors.