Roland O. Blais

He was born on January 14, 1919 in Berlin to Wilfred and Eva (Turcotte) Blais. He was ordained a priest on April 26, 1944 by the His Excellency William F. O'Shea, M.M., at Saint Joseph Cathedral in Manchester.

He studied Philosophy at St. Charles Borromeo in Sherbrooke, Quebec and then completed his ecclesiastical studies at the Grand Seminary in Montreal, Quebec.

Fr. Blais served as an associate pastor of Ste. Marie Parish in Manchester and St. Martin Parish in Somersworth. He was then assigned as pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Parish in New London. Following a sabbatical, he served as chaplain at St. Vincent de Paul in Berlin, as an associate at Sacred Heart in Laconia, Infant Jesus in Nashua, Holy Rosary in Rochester, temporary administrator of Sacred Heart in Wilton, then returning to Holy Rosary in Rochester until he was assigned to St. George Parish in Manchester where he served until his retirement.

He served as Eastern Area Scout Chaplain, Confessor for many women religious communities in the diocese and as Priest-liason for the Diocesan Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

The family includes a sister, Therese Horan of Berlin; 13 nieces and nephews including, Dr. Roland Montminy and his wife, Terry, Denise Connors and her husband, Dr. David, Christine Doucet and her husband, Ben, Rev. Paul D. Montminy, Rev. Marc R. Montminy, Francine B. Dupont and her husband, Gene, Andre Beaupre and his wife, Karen, Celeste Fletcher and her husband, Jim, Cathrine Johnson and her husband, Steve, Charles Horan and his wife, Rachel, Lisa Doucet and Mack, Philip Doucet and his wife, Sue and Carol Logan and her husband, John; many grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins.

He was predeceased by three sisters, Lucille Montminy, Fernande Doucet and Rita Beaupre.

With faith and hope in eternal life, let us commend our brother to the love and mercy of God and assist him with our prayers.

The Most Reverend Peter A. Libasci, Bishop of Manchester, presided at a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at Ste. Marie Church, 378 Notre Dame Ave., Manchester. Private committal prayers were held on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 at St. Anne Cemetery in Berlin.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to NH Catholic Charities, 325 Franklin St., Manchester, NH 03101.