Doreen L. Croteau

It is with a cheeky grin and a tap of the dancing shoe that we celebrate the life of Doreen Louise "Do" Croteau. Born on July 7, 1956, in Gardner, MA, Doreen graced the world with her creative spirit and her sense of humor.  From her birthplace to her residence in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, and other previous pit stops in Templeton and Baldwinville, Doreen sprinkled laughter and love like confetti. A talented supervisor in human services, she retired from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 2019, trading her official duties for a life filled with singing, acting, traveling, jigsaw puzzles, and tap dancing - a routine that would make even the most dedicated of retirees green with envy.

Doreen was a woman of many hats, and not just because she loved a good costume change. She was a past President of the New Player's Theatre Guild and the DTA Conference Board, a testament to her leadership skills and her ability to command the stage even without a script. She was also a member of the NPTG Showstoppers and the MA DTA Conference Players, always ready to put on a show. And let's not forget her penchant for costuming, transforming school kids and theater groups alike into Shakespearean lords and ladies, Disney princesses, and everything in between. Most notably, Doreen was loving, unapologetically herself, and celebrated every day with the enthusiasm of a kid in a candy store.

Doreen was the adored sister of Lynn Kendall, Michelle Alger, Paulette Antil, and Scott Croteau. She was the whimsical aunt to 10 nephews and nieces and a legion of great-nephews and nieces who will surely inherit her knack for puzzles and her love for Disney World. Doreen was preceded in death by her parents, Roland and Doris Croteau, and her brother Ronald Croteau. 

In the great theater of life, Doreen was the star of her own show, leaving us with unforgettable memories of a woman who was as funny as she was loving, as talented as she was creative. So, in celebration of Doreen, let's tap dance to our own rhythm, solve puzzles with gusto, and remember her with joy. We invite you to share your memories and upload photos of Doreen on the memorial page, so we can all remember the woman who could make us laugh, tap dance, and love deeper.

In lieu of flowers donation may be made to New Players Theatre Guild, 15 Rollstone Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420.
Family and friends will gather to honor and remember Doreen for a period of visitation on Friday, May 31, 2024, at Mack Family Funeral Home, 105 Central St. Gardner, MA, from 4:00pm until 7:00pm. A funeral service will take place on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at the funeral home, at 11:00am, followed by a burial at Greenlawn Cemetery in Baldwinville.
Arrangements are under the care of Mack Family Funeral Home.Kevin J. Mack, Walter C. Taylor, Melissa A. McQuaid, Funeral Directors.