Raymond J. Cantin

Raymond J. Cantin, 81, of 191 Jewitt Street, died April 29, 2003 at the Ridgewood Center in Bedford. He was born in Manchester on December 10, 1921, the son of John and Stella (Courtemarsh) Cantin and had been a lifelong resident of the city. He was a Marine Corps veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict. He was an art teacher with the Manchester School System at Southside Junior High School for twenty years and was a mentor to many students. Prior to that, he owned and operated John B. Cantin & Sons, the city's first department store in which his father started. He enjoyed bicycling and tennis. He was also very proud of the fact the he was the first Eagle Scout of St. Theresa Parish. He also wrote a book entitled "PFC's memoires - What Daddy Did In The War". He was a parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. Family members include his wife of 55 years, Claire (Doucette) Cantin; a son, John Cantin of Manchester; two daughters, Diane Lamy of Manchester and Monica Boisvert of Mont Vernon; a foster daughter, Rose Sheppard of CA; eight grandchildren and one great grandson; and several nephews, nieces and cousins. Calling hours will be at Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 243 Hanover Street on Thursday from 6 to 9 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday morning at 10:00 in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church. After cremation, inurnment will take place in the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation, 710 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032. To view an on-line memorial, get directions, send flowers or send a condolence, please go to www.phaneuf.net.