Eugene “Gene” Fontaine, 88 of Londonderry, NH died Sunday April 30, 2017 at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack, NH surrounded by his loving family. Gene was born in Manchester, NH on October 26, 1928, a son of the late Henry and Jeanne (Cote) Fontaine. He was a lifelong resident of Londonderry. Gene had been self-employed as a bread salesman delivering around Derry and Londonderry for many years. After retirement, Gene continued working by starting his own cordwood business. He cut, split and delivered 100+ cords of wood yearly in his 1952 dump truck. He was an active member of St. Thomas Aquinas Church and a founding member of the Knights of Columbus Council #3023 in Derry. Gene was a graduate of the Class of 1946 at Pinkerton Academy. He enjoyed spending time with his wife and children at the family camp. His hobbies were water skiing, bowling, and playing horse shoes. He had a special love for his land and being a part of the family neighborhood.
He is survived by seven children, Carol Coughlin of Tallahassee, FL, Nancy Cofrin of Londonderry, Daniel Fontaine and his wife Sharlene of Londonderry, Marie Brown and her husband Buster of Derry, Janet Sannella and her husband Arthur of Londonderry, Joyce Jaques and her husband Nigel of Nashotah, WI, and Robert Fontaine and his wife Robyn of Milford, OH, and his son-in-law James Arsenault of Bedford, NH. Also 15 grandchildren; David and Aaron Arsenault, Erika and Krista Coughlin, Shawn and Bryan Cofrin, April, Jamie and DJ Fontaine, Ken Brown, Samantha Sannella, Evan and Tyler Jaques, Skyler and Halle Fontaine and 12 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife of 64 years, Joan (Castricone) Fontaine in 2014, and by his daughter, Patricia Arsenault in 2017.
Calling hours were held on Wednesday May 3, 2017 from 4 – 8 pm in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Thursday at 10:00am at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, 26 Crystal Ave., Derry. Private burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Londonderry. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Community Hospice House, 210 Naticook Rd., Merrimack, NH 03054.