J. Laplante

OBITUARY Franklin, NH Mr. J. Benjamin LaPlante, Jr. 79, a former resident of Franklin, died at Merrimack County Nursing Home on Feb. 28, 2012. ""Ben"" was born in East Andover on April 6, 1932 the son of J. Benjamin LaPlante Sr. and Dorothy (Hersey) LaPlante. He was raised in East Andover and graduated from Franklin High School in 1950 and the Admiral Billard Naval Academy in New London, CT in 1951. Ben and his family resided on Chance Pond Rd. in Franklin for many years. He served in the US Air Force from 1951 to 1955, serving in Japan during the Korean Conflict. Ben was the custodian at Paul Smith Elementary School for over 26 years and also served as president of Franklin-Winnisquam Custodians' Union Local #3158. He was predeceased by his wife of 41 years, Anne (Farnum) LaPlante who died in 1999, a grandchild, Nicole LaPlante in 2010, and sisters, Eleanor Kehoe and Janet Mayo. Family members include his children: Cathy Widener and her husband Rick of New Boston, Joe LaPlante and his wife Grace of Northfield, Jeffrey LaPlante of Concord, and Cindy Clarenbach and her husband Scott of Franklin, 6 grandchildren: Caitlin and Hannah Widener of New Boston, Michelle Dalzell of Gilmanton, Brian, Laura, and Stacey Clarenbach of Franklin, a great granddaughter, Kailey Dalzell of Gilmanton, 4 sisters, Helen Duchesne of Bristol, Irene Hoffman of Indianapolis, IN, Margaret Paquette of Lakeport, and Rita Norander of Westford, MA, and several nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be held Friday, March 2nd from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Thibault-Neun Funeral Home, 143 Franklin St., Franklin, NH. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, March 3rd at 10 am in St. Paul Church. Spring burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. Donations in memory of Ben may be made to Franklin Public Library, 310 Central St., Franklin, NH 03235. For directions and an online guestbook, please visit www.neunfuneralhomes.com