Roland H. LaPlante, 86, of Nashua and former member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, passed away at his home, Monday afternoon, December 2, 2019, after a brief illness.
A lifelong resident of this city, Roland was born on July 27, 1933, a son of the late Edouard P. and Juliette M. (Theriault) LaPlante, and made his home in the French Hill neighborhood for the greater part of his life. After graduating from Nashua High School in 1951, Roland served with the Navy during the Korean War from 1951 to 1954. He then continued his education at Gardner State Hospital School of Nursing in Gardner, MA, graduating as a Licensed Practical Nurse.
During his long career in nursing, Roland worked at several medical institutions including Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Holy Family Hospital in Haverhill, MA and Holy Family Hospital formerly Bon Secours Hospital in Methuen, MA. He also worked part time as a cashier at Rockingham Park in Salem from 1963 to 1980.
Roland was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 1961 and served until 1965 and was Chairman of the Nashua Delegation. He was later re-elected to the House of Representatives in 2012.
A devout Catholic, Roland was a communicant of St. Patrick Church and was a Eucharistic Minister at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center in Nashua for ten years. In his leisure time, Roland enjoyed following his two favorite teams, the Dallas Cowboys and the Boston Red Sox.
Members of his family include his wife, Sally A. (Higgins) LaPlante, whom he married on January 3, 1958 and shared over 61 years together; his four children and their spouses, Denise and Claude Dupre of St. Hyacinthe area of Quebec, Canada, Ronald LaPlante of Nashua, Lawrence and Amanda LaPlante of Clayton, NC, and Michelle Duffy of Hampton Falls; a grandchild, Veronique Dupre; and great-grandchild, Arnaud Paquette both of Canada; sister-in-law, Hazel (Maroon) LaPlante and her daughter, Monique LaPlante of Candiac, PQ, Canada. In addition to his parents, Roland was predeceased by his brother, Bernard P. LaPlante, who passed away in January 2002.
Calling hours will be held at the FARWELL FUNERAL HOME, 18 Lock Street, Nashua, on Thursday afternoon, December 5th from 2 to 4 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Patrick Church, 29 Spring Street, Nashua, Friday morning at 9:30 a.m. Interment will follow in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery. Friends are invited to attend. To view online please visit www.farwellfuneralservice.com
