Janet Louise Dufresne, 78, of Derry, NH passed away Tuesday August 8, 2023, at Parkland Medical Center in Derry. Janet was born April 12, 1945, in Springfield, MA and was a daughter of the late M. Peter and Jennie (Puchopek) Drozek. She was raised and educated in Chicopee MA and was a graduate of U Mass Amherst with a Bachelor’s in education. After a brief residence in Manchester, she has resided in Derry for the past 50 years.
Janet was an elementary school teacher in Anchorage, AK, while her husband was stationed there and taught more recently in Derry. She would later become a stay-at-home mom. Janet was a Cub Scout Den mother with Pack 402 and later volunteered for many years as a treasurer for Boy Scout Troop 402. She enjoyed reading, solving Sudoku puzzles, gardening, fishing and listening to her beloved Red Sox.
Members of the family include: her husband of 56 years, Norman P. Dufresne of Derry; two sons and their spouses, Christopher M. Dufresne (Colleen Kirk) of Chattanooga, TN and Jonathan P. Dufresne (Jenna Dufresne) of Pepperrell, MA; one grandson, Hunter F. Dufresne; her sister, Nancy Baldwin of Cromwell, CT; two nephews, William Baldwin and James Baldwin; one niece, Victoria Riniger; her brothers-in-law, Daniel Dufresne and Andrew Dufresne; and a sister-in-law, Elaine Gamble.
Calling hours will be Sunday August 13, 2023, from 4 to 6 pm at the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch Street Derry. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday August 14, 2023, at 10am at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 26 Crystal Avenue Derry and will conclude with burial in the Forest Hill Cemetery, East Derry (Located behind First Parish Congregational Church). In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Friends of the Manchester Animal Shelter or an animal charity of one's choice. To send a condolence, please visit www.peabodyfuneralhome.com.