Annette Sprague

Annette (Dufresne) Sprague, 49, died peacefully at home in Amherst, NH on Friday, July 30, 2010 with her family and friends at her side, after a long illness. Annette was born on December 21, 1960 in Tewksbury, MA. She was the daughter of the late Robert J. and Claire R. (Mailloux) Dufresne. Annette was raised in Nashua and was a graduate of Nashua High, class of 1978, and went on to receive her degree in Fashion Merchandising from Newbury College in 1980. For many years Annette worked in the retail industry. She was also the wife of the late B. Allan Sprague, who died in November of 2008. Annette married Al on July 24, 1984, and had 24 wonderful years with him. Their daughter Alexandra was born in 1990. When her daughter was of school age, Annette worked in the Amherst School System. Her most recent position was president of BGG Advertising, a role Annette took on after her husband died. Along with her beloved daughter Alex, Annette is survived by three brothers, Tom Dufresne and his wife Martha, John Dufresne and his wife Claudia, both of Hollis, and Bob Dufresne and his wife Vicki of Nashua; three sisters Roberta and her husband Stephen Gasco of Meredith, Elaine and her husband John Dunn of Merrimack, and Mary and her husband Kevin Leen of Key West, FL. Annette is also survived by a sister in-law Doris Evans and husband Les of Fairfax, VA and a brother in-law Robert Sprague of FL. Annette was a wonderful aunt to Caitlin, Margaret, Danielle, Claire, Spencer, Ben, and Meredith Dufresne; Jennifer Boyer, Lee and Lauren Gentry, and Hannah Leen and great aunt to Lilyth Dufresne. Annette's closest friends Leslie Thurber, Ann Marie Della Fera, Mary Epstein, and Joan Robinson will also miss her, as well as her circle of Reiki friends who gave her such comfort, especially Mary Powlowsky. SERVICES: Her Memorial Gathering will be held at the Phaneuf Funeral Home, 243 Hanover Street, Manchester on Wednesday from 11:00AM to 12:00PM. Her Funeral Service will follow in the funeral home chapel at Noon. Family and close friends are invited to attend the committal prayers at the NH State Veterans Cemetery, Boscawen at 2:00PM. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Annette's memory can be made to the Pan Mass Challenge Dana Farber Center, c/o Tom Dufresne, Box 393, Hollis, NH or Home Health and Hospice, 80 Continental Blvd, Merrimack, NH 03054. Annette's brother Tom will be riding in the I92-mile ride next weekend, August 7 and 8, in her honor.