Pamphile Turcotte, 84, peacefully passed away at home surrounded by loved ones on July 2nd, 2024. He was the beloved husband of Louise (Nadeau) Turcotte, to whom he was married for 63 beautiful years. One of six siblings, he was the fourth son of the late Trefflé Turcotte and Eva Rose Fortin.
Pamphile, more commonly known as Phil or Grand Papa to his many grandchildren, was born and raised in St. Éphrem, Québec, Canada. He grew up on a dairy farm, attended a one-room schoolhouse, and enjoyed playing ice hockey in his youth. He met his beloved wife, Louise, in their late teens at a wedding anniversary party, a moment that Louise recalls to be “love at first sight,” and the couple was married on July 3, 1961. After Pamphile spent a few years working in Montréal, Ontario, and Maine, the newlyweds immigrated to the United States in June of 1963 and were residents of Nashua and then Hudson, New Hampshire, where they have lived ever since. Pamphile worked in the drywall industry amidst the Boston construction surge. His passion for construction and his skill as a quintessential handyman was passed on to impact the livelihoods and the careers of his children.
Phil and Louise were part of a vibrant French-Canadian community within the Nashua-Hudson area and raised their three children in Hudson. Phil was an enthusiastic outdoorsman. In the winter, he enjoyed ice skating and snowmobiling, and in the summers, he enjoyed the lake, boating, water skiing, camping, and the beach. While establishing his new life in the US, his family enjoyed frequent trips to Canada to visit extended family.
In 1980, Phil and Louise embarked on their first big adventure-a cross-country road trip from Québec to British Columbia. This sparked a lifelong love of travel and exploring the world, a passion that Phil and Louise carried with them throughout their entire marriage. Together, the couple has traveled to Europe and the Caribbean, as well as to Russia, Egypt, Israel, China, Central and South America, and many other places. Of all of their travels, their favorite trip was a tour of US national parks.
In retirement, which started at the young age of 58, Phil enjoyed traveling to Florida to replace the brisk New England winters with sunshine. As snowbirds, Phil and Louise became skilled players of pétanque, shuffleboard, and golf. Phil also served on the board of their condo association.
At the peak of his retirement, Phil enjoyed spending quality time with his immediate and extended family. A great example of this was his 80th birthday celebration–a surprise party in Canada organized by his children, memories of which are fondly cherished. He was known to his grandchildren as man who worked hard and played harder. It is evident that he lived life fully, embraced ‘joie de vivre,’ love, and laughter with everyone he met. Phil’s life tale included his adventures, his love of new experiences, and his love for his wife and family. He was an avid collector of tools, and he loved a good tease. His smile was unforgettable. He will be greatly missed.
In addition to his wife Louise, Phil is survived by his son, Claude Turcotte and his wife Terri Turcotte of Hudson, NH; his daughter, Joanne (Turcotte) Kenyon and her husband Peter Kenyon of Chelmsford, MA; his daughter-in-law, Annmarie Pintal Turcotte of Amherst, NH; and several siblings, grandchildren, and extended family members.
Phil was predeceased by his brother Paul Turcotte, his son Marcel Turcotte, and his granddaughter Lauren Kenyon.
Family and friends are welcome to pay their respects at Dumont-Sullivan Funeral Home, 50 Ferry Street, Hudson, NH on Friday, July 12th from 4pm – 7pm. A Prayer Service will take place on Saturday, July 13th at 11am in the funeral home. Guests may arrive starting at 10:30am. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers the family encourages donation be made in Phil’s loving memory to Home Health & Hospice Care at www.hhhc.org. To share an online message of condolence, please visit www.dumontsullivan.com The Dumont-Sullivan Funeral Home in Hudson is in charge of arrangements.