L. Robert DesRuisseaux

L. Robert DesRuisseaux, 69, of Manchester died September 14, 2003 at Catholic Medical Center after a sudden illness.

Born in Manchester on August 1, 1934, he was the son of Dollard and Bertha (Hebert) DesRuisseaux. He was a lifelong resident of Manchester.

He was an outstanding basketball player on powerful St. Marie High School teams from 1950 to 1953. In 1998 he was selected for induction into the Manchester Catholic High Schools Athletic Hall of Fame.

During the 1950's he served in the US Army and later served as a member of the US Air Force Reserves.

Mr. DesRuisseaux was superintendent of Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Manchester for many years. He worked at that cemetery for over 50 years.

He had served on the board of directors and was a former president of the New England Cemetery Association. He was awarded the designation of Certified Catholic Cemetery Executive by the National Catholic Cemetery Conference in 1996.

He was a communicant of St. Marie Church and was a member of the Catholic War Veterans Post 1749 of that parish.

Mr. DesRuisseaux was an avid woodworker and enjoyed making shaker boxes. He was a member of the Guild of New Hampshire Woodworkers. He had recently begun volunteer work at Catholic Medical Center.

He was predeceased by a brother, Roger C. DesRuisseaux in 2000.

The family includes his wife of 45 years, Rita T. (Gagne) DesRuisseaux of Manchester; five children, Diane Kazanowski of Manchester, Suzanne Berube of Northwood, Marc G. DesRuisseaux of Auburn, Janet Girard of Bow and Robert M. DesRuisseaux of Topeka, KS; eight grandchildren; two brothers, Gerard Desruisseaux of Manchester and A. Maurice Desruisseaux of Orlando, FL; a sister, Mrs. Marcel (Cecile) Dupuis of Bedford; cousins, nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Thursday September 17, 2003 in St. Marie Church, 378 Notre Dame Ave., Manchester. Encryptment was in Mt. Calvary Mausoleum, 474 Goffstown Rd., Manchester.