Alfred W Bouchard

Rev. Alfred W. Bouchard, 83, of Manchester, passed away on Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at Villa Crest Nursing and Retirement Center.

Alfred was born June 1, 1930, in Manchester, the son of Alfred Bouchard and Georgianna (Gregoire) Bouchard Proulx. He graduated from St. Joseph's High School, Manchester in 1948, and then attended St. Anselm College, Manchester from 1948-1950. Alfred entered the seminary in 1950 and studied philosophy at St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, MD (1950-1952) and theology at Grand Seminary, Montreal, Quebec and St. Boniface Seminary, Winnipeg, Manitoba (1952-1956). He received a Masters in Pastoral Theology – Laval University, Quebec, Quebec (1971-1972).

Fr. Bouchard was ordained a priest on May 26, 1956 at St. Joseph's Cathedral, Manchester, NH. He served in the Diocese of Gravelbourg in Saskatchewan (SK), Canada from 1956 to 1997, first as assistant pastor at several churches (1956-1972), then as pastor at St. Patrick Church, Eastend, SK (1972-1977), Christ the King Parish in Shaunovan, SK and Mission Church in Scotsguard, SK (1977-1985), Sacred Heart Church, Swift Current, SK (1985-1992), and Gravelbourg Cathedral, Gravelbourg, SK (1992-1997).

Fr. Bouchard returned to New Hampshire in 1997. He served as Chaplain at Catholic Medical Center, Manchester, NH (1997-1998), and as senior priest at St. Patrick Parish and St. Aloysus of Gonzaga Parish, Nashua, NH (1998-2007), where he was honored with a beautiful 50th Anniversary Mass and celebration.

Fr. Bouchard was known for his ebullient sense of humor, joie de vivre, and his tireless service to his parish communities. He loved children, and his nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews always looked forward to seeing "Uncle Alfred." Many of them were treated to month-long camping trips, touring Western Canada and the United States. In the 1980's and 90's Fr. Bouchard was the Director of Camp Lemieux, a Catholic summer camp in Southern Saskatchewan. While in Nashua, he adopted the second grade class at St. Christopher School, teaching the children about the Eucharist.

Fr. Bouchard was a 4th degree Knight of Columbus and served as spiritual director in Canada, and more recently for Council 11907 in Nashua. He was the spiritual director of the Daughters of Isabella at St. Aloysus of Gonzaga, Nashua. Fr. Bouchard's family would like to thank the Knights of Columbus for their dedication over the past 6 years, and for visiting him every Monday evening and, when he was in better health, bringing him to Bishop Peterson House to enjoy the companionship of his fellow priests.

Alfred is predeceased by his sister, Georgette Pruneau and his brother Henri "Butch" Bouchard. He is survived by his sisters Pauline Biron of Oxnard, CA and Lorraine Brisson and her husband, Guy, of Plymouth, NH; his brother-in-law Robert Pruneau of Manchester, NH; his sister-in-law Pauline Bouchard of Goffstown, NH; his fourteen nieces and nephews and their children.
Calling hours will be at Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 250 Coolidge Avenue, Manchester on Thursday evening from 6 to 8 PM. Fr. Bouchard will lie in state on Friday morning from 10 to 11 AM at the Parish of the Transfiguration with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11:00 AM. Committal services will take place following the Mass in Mt. Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to NH Catholic Charities, PO Box 686, Manchester, NH 03105 or to the Legionaries of Christ, 590 Columbus Ave, Thornwood, NY 10594. For more information or to view an on-line Tribute, go to www.phaneuf.net .