John R. Deschenes, 70, a lifelong resident of Nashua passed away on Monday, October 12, 2020 at Southern New Hampshire Regional Medical Center after a brief illness.
Born in Nashua on September 6, 1950, he was the son of the late Roger and Juliette (Sigouin) Deschenes. He and his wife, Louise (Rudak) were married on August 12, 1978 and recently celebrated their 42nd anniversary at their home in Ogunquit.
John was a 1970 graduate of Nashua High School and a 1975 graduate of the New Hampshire Vocational-Technical College-Manchester. He also attended UMass-Lowell and was a member of Rise at Rivier University.
John entered the US Army upon graduation in 1970 and was honorably discharged in 1973, having served the majority of his deployment in Germany.
John began his career at a young age at Lenny’s Gulf Service Station in Nashua. He later worked for Nashua Corporation and retired from Elbit Systems of America in 2017.
John was previously an active parishioner of St. Stanislaus Parish where he served as a Eucharistic Minister, vice chair of the Parish Council and chair of the Buildings and Grounds Committee. He served as Treasurer for their weekly Bingo for many years and volunteered at the annual Parish Polish Picnic. John was recognized as Parishioner of the Year 1991-1992.
John is currently a parishioner of Immaculate Conception Parish and has continued to volunteer there for various functions. He particularly enjoyed a recent trip on a Rhine River Cruise with fellow parishioners.
John was passionate about his service work with the Nashua Lions Club. Over his 26-years of membership, he served in many capacities including: President, Secretary, Treasurer, Sight and Hearing Chairman, and Co-chair of the KidSight Program. On the District/State level he was the Health Van Coordinator, Cabinet Secretary-Treasurer, Multiple District Cabinet Secretary-Treasurer, Guiding Lion, Zone Chairman, and Sight and Hearing Committee member. John was the Coordinator of volunteers at the NH Special Olympics each June for the Opening Eyes Program. For many years he worked at the Lions of NH Haunted House each October. He was also a supporter and volunteer at Lions Camp Pride in New Durham. John and his family were lucky enough to attend several Lions Club International Conventions throughout the years in such places as Montreal, San Diego, Chicago, and Boston.
He was honored to have his service work acknowledged by his fellow Lions with a Progressive Melvin Jones Fellow (the highest recognition given on the International level), a Progressive Granite State Fellow (the highest recognition on the state level), and a Presidential Appreciation Award. He was named Nashua Lion of the Year twice in 1998-1999 and again in 2009-2010.
John also served on the Board of Directors for the Friendship Club in Nashua for many years.
Members of his family include his wife, Louise; daughter and son-in-law Sarah and Michael Kiley of Manchester, NH; son and daughter-in-law Gregory and Ashley Deschenes of Westfield, MA. His three granddaughters held a very special place in his heart: Callie and Addison Deschenes and Maeve Kiley.
John is also survived by his two brothers, Michael and Paul both of Nashua; his two sisters and brothers-in-law Diane Deschenes and Ronald Longworth of Nashua and Dr. Rose and Kenneth George of Fort Collins, Colorado, his aunt Marjorie Fischer of Nashua, his uncle Ronald Jenkins of Nashua, his aunt Lorraine (Raoul) Leveille of Sanford, ME; and many special nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Besides his parents, John was predeceased by his brother David; his father-in-law and mother-in-law Bolic and Lucille Rudak; and his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Jacqueline and Ronald Langlois.
John’s big heart and even bigger smile will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
John’s family wishes to express their grateful appreciation to the nurses, doctors, and staff of Southern New Hampshire Regional Medical Center ICU and 4 West for the care and compassion shown to him and his family during his final weeks.
His walk-through visitation will be held at the FARWELL FUNERAL HOME, 18 Lock Street, Nashua on Sunday, October 18th from 4 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Immaculate Conception Church, 216 East Dunstable Road, Nashua, Monday, October 19th at 11 a.m. Friends are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made in his name to the Nashua Lions Club (PO Box 3361, Nashua 03061) or the Lions Sight and Hearing Foundation of NH (PO Box 970, Concord, NH 03302.) Arrangements are in the care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE. www.farwellfuneralservice.com
