Romeo Alfred Labonte, 89, passed away peacefully on April 18, 2018 at Bentley Commons Assisted Living Facility in Bedford, NH where he has been a resident for the past two years. Romeo was born in Berlin, NH, on May 22, 1928, the son of Aime and Fleurendy (Blais) Labonte. In Romeo’s early years he was a successful Class “A” jumper for the Nansen Ski Club and along with his brother Maurice were affectionately referred to as the “Flying Frenchmen”. He was a member of the United States Eastern Amateur Ski Association. He competed both locally and throughout New England and Canada. Later Romeo worked for many years for Brown Company and James River Corporation. In retirement, he and his wife Doris traveled to Europe and various parts of the United States and Canada. He enjoyed playing golf well into his retirement at the Androscoggin Valley Country Club. He also spent many hours cross country skiing at the Nansen Ski Club cross country trails.
He was a very devoted, loving and caring husband and father. He will be deeply missed by his wife of 64 years, Doris of Bedford, NH, his son Paul and wife Barbara of Stratham, NH, and grandson Alex. Surviving siblings are two sisters, Gisele Sheridan of Simpsonville, SC and Irene Oleson of Berlin, and sister-in-law Beatrice Labonte of Concord, NH. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Joseph, Bertrand and Maurice Labonte; sisters Beatrice Arsenault, Anita Filteau and Rhea Langevin; brothers-in-law Albert Arsenault, Albert Filteau, Donald Langevin, Frank Sheridan, Carl Oleson and sisters-in-law Florence Labonte and Adele Labonte.
Funeral Services will be held on May 11th at 11AM at Bryant Funeral Home, 180 Hillside Ave., Berlin, NH, followed by interment at St. Anne’s Cemetery. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Romeo’s memory to Nansen Ski Jump Rehabilitation Project c/o Nansen Ski Club, PO Box 222, Berlin, NH 03570 or to The Moffett House Museum, 119 High Street, Berlin, NH 03570.