On Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, the Rev. Donald F. Gauthier Jr. was called to his rest and to the glory of the Resurrection promised by the Lord. He was 71 years old.On Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, the Rev. Donald F. Gauthier Jr. was called to his rest and to the glory of the Resurrection promised by the Lord. He was 71 years old.
Father Gauthier was born on Sept. 12, 1948 in Berlin, N.H., the son of Donald and Katherine Gauthier, Sr. He attended St. Patrick Grammar School and Berlin High School. He graduated from Saint Philip Neri College and completed ecclesiastical studies at Wadhams Hall Seminary in Ogdensburg, N.Y., and Saint John’s Seminary, Brighton, Mass. Father Gauthier was ordained a priest on Sept. 27, 1975 by the Most Rev. Odore J. Gendron, DD, at Saint John the Evangelist Church in Concord, N.H.
After Ordination, Father Gauthier served as associate pastor of the following parishes: Immaculate Conception Parish in Portsmouth, N.H.; Saint Anne Parish in Manchester, N.H.; Saint Joseph Parish in Nashua, N.H., and Saint Catherine Parish in Manchester. Father Gauthier served as pastor of Saint Joseph Parish in Belmont, N.H., Saint Lawrence Parish in Goffstown, N.H., and Our Lady of the Mountains Parish in North Conway, N.H., until his retirement in June 2016.
Father Gauthier also served as Chaplain to the Algonquin District, Boy Scouts of America; Knights of Columbus, Portsmouth Council; Knights of Columbus, Nashua Council; Knights of Columbus, Manchester Marian
Don is survived by his oldest sister, Sue Gauthier; his baby sister, Sammy Armentrout; his youngest brother, Dan Gauthier; his lifetime friend, Ernie LeBlanc; his nephew, Corey Pinette; nieces, Heather and Kelley Gauthier, Dominique DuTremble, Juliana French and Marena Jones; great-nephews, Elijah and Ethan; and Ernie’s sons Will and Arthur Leblanc. He leaves behind other dearly loved family members and friends.
On Sunday, Sept. 29, at 4 p.m., the Rite of Reception of the Body will take place at Our Lady of the Mountains Church at 2905 White Mountain Highway in North Conway. Father Gauthier will lie in repose in the church until 7 p.m., concluding with Evening Prayer.
On Monday, Sept. 30, Father Gauthier will lie in repose at Our Lady of the Mountains Church, in North Conway from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. The Most Rev. Peter A. Libasci, Bishop of Manchester, will preside at a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of the Mountains Church on Monday, Sept. 30, at 11 a.m. The Rite of Committal will be celebrated privately at a later date.
