Stella M. Provost

Stella M. (Tumas) Provost, 95, formerly of 27 College Rd., Manchester died March 23, 2005 at Hanover Hill Nursing Home after a brief illness.

Born in Graniteville, VT on July 4, 1909, she was the daughter of Anton and Chlorina (Routhier) Tumas. She lived most of her life in Manchester.

She was the owner and operator of The French Shoppe in downtown Manchester for many years. She had also worked at Hills Department Store, A.J. Houle Wig World and several other downtown area retailers.

Mrs. Provost was a member of the Association Canado-Americaine and a charter member of the Hillsborough County Guild. She had volunteered at Hillsborough County Nursing Home and had been a communicant of the former St. Edmond Church.

She was predeceased by her husband, Romeo J. Provost in 1978 and by a daughter, Jacqueline Jarosz in 1992.

The family includes a daughter, Jeanne S. Preble of Goffstown; a son, Pierre D. Provost of Schenectady, NY; five grandchildren and one great granddaughter; several nieces and nephews.

A mass of Christian burial was celebrated Monday March 28, 2005 in Parish of the Transfiguration, corner of Kelley and Youville streets, Manchester. Committal prayers were at St. Joseph Cemetery, E. Chelmsford, MA.

Memorial donations may be made to Hanover Hill Nursing Home, 700 Hanover St., Manchester, or to the Edmund A. Bednarowski Jr. Charitable Foundation, PO Box 4843, Manchester, NH 03108-4843