Norman W. Demers

Norman Wilfred Demers, 92, of Gorham, passed away on Friday, October 18th, 2024.He was born in Cascade on April 3rd, 1932, the fourth child of Louis and Antoinette (Morin) Demers.

  Norman attended Saint Benedict’s School and graduated from Gorham High School. He enlisted in the Navy and proudly served aboard the USS Coral Sea (CVA43) from 1952-1956. He was employed by Brown Company / James River and worked in the shipping department, the towel room, and the boiler house before retiring in 1994. He closed out his working career in the trades with co-worker Lionel Turgeon. He was a member of the Gorham/Cascade Fire Department and was the Cascade Clerk. He was one of the original members of the Millsfield Sportsman’s Club. He is the last surviving member of the original Berlin-Gorham Road families from Labonville's to Cascade Flats.

 He married his high school sweetheart, Mary Lou (Eafrati), on August 16th, 1952, while he was home on boot-camp leave. They were married for 44 years until Mary Lou's early passing in 1996. Later in life, Norman often quipped that he had to work so much during their marriage because Mary Lou knew how to spend their money!

 Family came first to Norman, however, hunting and fishing were his passions. He was a talented storyteller about his escapades – stories that were embellished over the years and caused much laughter and joy. He was an excellent shot with a firearm, especially if the target was moving. Norman was nicknamed “OUTLAW” because of his disregard for the hunting limits. In his earlier years, he often would “get” at least 5 deer in a season – but he always made sure that each one went to good use for families and friends. Ironically, one of his grandsons later became a NH Conservation Officer.

 Norman loved being outdoors. He was able to hunt every year until the age of 91, when his health finally caught up with him. Norman was also an expert fly fisherman, tying most of his own flies, and would take his boat out on the water often. Later in life, he would tend to his lawn and garden endlessly in the summers and insist on snow-blowing his driveway in the winters. Norman was, in his own words, 'in-de-pen-dent.'

  Norman also loved playing cards, and, in particular, cribbage. Even in his later years, he and his partner, Verlie Rajaniemi, would hover over a wooden cribbage board for hours. Thanks to his nephew/Godchild Rick (Linda) Demers, Norman was also able to play at St Anne’s Hall and at the Berlin VFW. He was competitive – if you played with him, you had better know how to count your cards correctly AND quickly!

 Norman lived a very full and healthy time here on earth. Despite losing his wife and longtime partner, he always commented, “You know, I've had a good life.” He was a beloved Pépère and simply got cuter over the years. He was always eager to watch a sports game on television, go for a drive and tell you stories along the way, work on his jigsaw puzzles, and – of course – eat heaping bowls of ice cream.

 He was predeceased by his wife Mary Lou (Eafrati) Demers in 1996, son John (JD) in 2022, and longtime partner Verlie Rajaniemi in 2020. He was predeceased by: his siblings and their spouses, Peter Harvey (Jeannette) Demers of Berlin, Annette (Albert) Nadeau of Lancaster, NH, Robert (Jeanne) Demers of Gorham, and Ernest Demers of Randolph; sister-in-law Lucille Eafrati of Manchester, NH; nephews Michael Demers and Luke Demers and niece Susan Demers Bouchard; and great friends, Ronny (RP) Riendeau, Robert Gionet and Wallace Rajaniemi, Verlie's husband.

He is survived by: his children, William (Lucie) Demers of Randolph,

Debra (Michael) DeLisle of Lempster, NH, daughter-in-law Shannon Demers of Dummer, NH; grandchildren, USAF Lt. Col. Nathan (Heather) Demers of Niceville, FL, NHSP Trooper Jonathan (Jennifer) DeLisle of Lempster, NH, favorite granddaughter Kayla Demers of Manhattan Beach, CA, and the third grandson, who was shown by Pépère at a very young age how to fish and play cribbage, Jeremy DeLisle of Milton, NH; and great grandchildren Katie, Warden, and Walski DeLisle of Lempster, NH.

 He is also survived by: Verlie’s children, Pam (William) Reese, Cindy (Bruce) McLaughlin, Godchild Elton (Jodi) Rajaniemi and Vickie (Jim) Clarke and all of their children; his sister-in-law Denise Demers of Randolph, brother-in-law Louis Eafrati of Manchester, sister-in-law Natalie (William) Watson of Maine; his cousin, but more like a brother, Arthur Demers of Gorham; good friends Snookie Riendeau of Cascade and Dick (Linda) Lafleur of Berlin, Lionel (Bunny) Turgeon of Milan, and several nieces and nephews.

 The family would like to thank North Country Home Health and Hospice and AV Home Care for their care and support. In addition, the family has immense gratitude for all the wonderful caregivers from In Your Home Care LLC – their 24/7 care allowed Norman to stay at peace in his own home over these last few years.

 Norman, aka Pépère, Outlaw, Mouche à Merde, will be dearly missed, but we are happy for him to be reunited with his loved ones up above.

 A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday October 25, 2024 at 10 AM at Holy Family Church, Church St., Gorham with interment following at Holy Family Cemetery, Gorham. There will be no calling hours. Family and friends are asked to go directly to the church. Those who wish may make donations in his memory to a charity of one’s choice. The Bryant Funeral Home in Gorham is in charge of the arrangements. Memories and condolences may be shared online at www.bryantfuneralhome.net.