Shrewsbury, MA/Lebanon, NH – Eugene George Dauphinais, 93, died peacefully at home on Sunday, February 25, 2024, after a lifetime devoted to his Savior, Jesus Christ. He was born in Lebanon, NH, the son of Joseph Dauphinais and Rachel (LaPorte) Dauphinais, and grew up in Lebanon, NH along with his 9 brothers and sisters.
Eugene attended Lebanon schools and, as did many in the post-Depression era, left school after graduating the eight-grade to work and contribute to his family. He began his career at age 16 working at H.W. Carter & Sons, Inc. textile factory in Lebanon, NH. After 38 years there during which he learned to do every production job, he retired as Head Cutter when the factory was closed and moved South. He subsequently worked 15 years at Dick’s House student infirmary at Dartmouth College.
Eugene proudly served his country as a Corporal on a U.S. Army Howitzer battery while stationed in Trieste, Italy during the Korean War. Despite never having fired a gun prior to being drafted, he quickly distinguished himself as a certified Expert with an M-1 rifle.
Eugene met his beloved wife, Anne-Marie, a Nurse (and herself one of 17 children), while a patient in Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital in Hanover, NH, following a car accident. The couple fell in love, married, and settled in Lebanon, NH for 62 years while raising four children, before moving to Shrewsbury, MA in 2019.
Eugene was a life-long member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Eagles Club, where he relished innumerable Saturdays spent dancing the night away with his beloved Anne-Marie and family.
Eugene was a devout member of Sacred Heart Church in Lebanon, NH where he was an active member of the Knights of Columbus and Holy Name Society. With his wife Anne-Marie, Eugene always had time to help others and often volunteered at his Church, the Lebanon Senior Center and at LaSalette Shrine in Enfield, NH, while also performing innumerable painting, wallpapering, repairs and other odd-jobs for many elderly friends and fellow parishioners over the years.
After retiring, Eugene enjoyed his additional time spent with Anne-Marie, his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and their expansive family.
Eugene walked 3-miles a day throughout the City of Lebanon for over 40 years, in the process being named a “Super Senior” featured in a WCAX Television segment highlighting his life and wanderings around the city.
In 2013, Eugene was a contributor to the Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition entitled “The Way We Worked,” highlighting the 126-year history of the H.W. Carter & Sons, Inc. textile factory in Lebanon, NH. With the encouragement of his close friend, Bente Torjusen West, then Executive Director of the AVA Gallery & Art Center, he was also an integral participant in the making of the 2013 documentary film, “Connecting the Threads: Overalls to Art at the H.W. Carter and Sons Factory,” created by Historic New England, the AVA Gallery and Community Access Television of the Upper Valley, and contributed significantly to the H.W. Carter & Sons, Inc. permanent exhibition in the AVA Gallery in Lebanon, NH.
Eugene loved life and making people happy, with his smile and enthusiasm brightening the day of many in his lifetime. He was particularly fond of the many friends he made in his final years at Shrewsbury Crossings Assisted Living in Shrewsbury, MA: He felt his friendships were one of his greatest treasures.
He loved to laugh, and was especially fond of a good practical joke, especially when it was on him.
While many have a Santa in their life, Eugene’s children had a real-life elf in their father, who would make them fabulous one-of-a kind wooden toys in his secret workshop. His children cherish the many gifts he shared with them, including his talents in carpentry, woodworking, painting, making practically anything out of practically nothing…his love of adventure and enduring quest for fun…and, most importantly, how to live a good, Christian life. Already a life-long painter of buildings, in his final years Eugene took to creating intricate art on paper. For his final challenge, a mere two months prior to his passing at age 93 he found a new passion in painting on canvas.
He is predeceased by his wife of 64 years, Anne-Marie (Roy) Dauphinais, and by four brothers and two sisters. He is survived by his beloved children, William Dauphinais of Lebanon, NH, Helen Koch and her husband Barry of TX, Carmen Rickenback (a 20-year United States Air Force Veteran) and her husband Douglas of NV, and Francis Dauphinais and his wife Maureen of CT; two brothers, Alfred of FL and Rev. Gerard Dauphinais, MMA of MA, and one sister, Lea Tessier of NH; his grandchildren, Colby Dauphinais of OR, Nina Dauphinais of CA, Spencer Koch and his wife Alec of TX, Sean Koch of TX, Patrick Merkel and his wife Casandra of VA, Douglas Rickenback, Jr. and his wife Melissa of CA, Derick Rickenback of CA, Katrina Dauphinais of MA and Nathan Dauphinais of CT; his great grandchildren, Alexandra and Genevieve Merkel; as well as over 70 nieces and nephews.
Eugene’s family would like to thank the compassionate and caring staff at Shrewsbury Crossings Assisted Living for their outstanding job done caring for both our cherished mother and father in their final years. Dad truly enjoyed his time spent at Shrewsbury Crossings, was thrilled to have a French language tutor at age 93, and we had peace-of-mind knowing our parents were well taken care of and safe.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, February 29, 2024 at Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden, MA.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 1, 2024 at St. Mary’s Church, 640 Main St., Shrewsbury, MA.
The same day, Burial will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 1, 2024 at Sacred Heart Cemetery, 107 Renihan Meadows, Lebanon, NH.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Sacred Heart Parish, 2 Hough St., Lebanon, NH, or the AVA Gallery & Art Center, 11 Bank St. Lebanon, NH 03766.
