Roland Joseph Marchand

Roland J. Marchand, 96, died peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack, NH on Sunday, April 25, 2021.

 Roland was born in Lowell, MA on June 4, 1924. He was the son of the late Alfred and Philomene (Theriault) Marchand. He attended St. Joseph School in Lowell, MA and proudly served in the United States Navy during World War II.

On January 1, 1946, he married the love of his life, Rita C. (Gervais) Marchand and together they had four children. They moved from their home in Lowell to Nashua, NH in 1976. In 1986 Roland retired from his position as a supervisor at the W. H. Bagshaw Company after 43 years. Roland was also a member of the Nashua Elks Lodge 720.

Roland loved animals, in his younger years he raised racing pigeons with his dad and always had a dog or a cat in his life along with his “grand dogs”. His many other interests included summers at Hampton Beach, winters in Boynton Beach, FL, golfing, playing cribbage, watching westerns, music, the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots. He was a devoted Catholic and a communicant of St. Louis de Gonzaga Church in Nashua.

Roland was predeceased by his wife Rita, his daughter Anne T. (Marchand) McGadden and his sister Irene (Marchand) Marshall and her husband Warren Marshall.

Roland is survived by his three children: daughter Diane (Marchand) Monk and her husband John of Bedford, NH, son Ronald A. Marchand of Nags Head, NC and daughter Joan S. (Marchand) Edwards of Nashua, NH, five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, one nephew, Roland Marshall (who he lovingly referred to as his brother) and his wife Mary; and two nieces, Anne Marshall of Dracut, MA and Carol Soucy and her husband Brian of Pelham, NH. Special acknowledgment is made to his granddaughter Michelle (McGadden) Beigel, her husband Chris Beigel and his grandson Patrick McGadden with whom he had a very close and loving relationship. The family would also like to extend their gratitude to the wonderful staff at the Community Hospice House for making Roland’s final days comfortable.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, along with Roland’s wishes, services will be private. Internment will take place at Saint Joseph Cemetery in Chelmsford, MA. Arrangements under the care of ROCHETTE FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES, 21 Kinsley Street, Nashua.

Donations in his memory can be made to the Community Hospice House, 7 Executive Park Drive,  Merrimack, NH, 03054 or the Nashua Soup Kitchen, P.O. Box 3116, Nashua, NH 03061.

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