Paul L. Roy

Paul Leo Roy, 80, of Princeton, died on Sunday, October 13, 2024, at home surrounded by his loving family after an illness. 

He was the beloved husband of fifty-seven years to Karen (Laitinen) Roy. In addition to his wife, Paul is survived by his son, Jeffrey Roy and his wife Kimberly Roy of Sutton; his daughter, Leslie Roy of Princeton, MA; his grandchildren, Evan and Lauren Roy of Sutton, MA; and his sister, Susan Richard and her husband Robert Richard of Westminster, MA. He is also survived by a nephew and two nieces and multiple great nieces and nephews. 

A man of great character, Paul was born in Gardner, the son of the late Leo and Fleurette (Beauchemin) Roy of Gardner and Westminster. He served in the United States National Guard from 1965 till 1971, where he was awarded a unit citation, along with one of his fellow Guardsman, for their ingenuity to improve armament training. 

Paul spent the first thirty years of his career in the auto parts industry. His expertise in this area also lent itself to his past-time and passion, having meticulously rebuilt numerous classic Corvettes.

In 1993, Paul left the auto parts industry and with his exceptional business acumen and work ethic struck out on his own, founding Royco Distributors, a lubricant distribution company servicing all of New England. With his wife Karen working by his side, Paul’s dedication and commitment to his company was felt throughout the community. Under Paul’s leadership, Royco Distributors became an extension of the Roy family, employing his son Jeff, daughter Leslie, grandson Evan, and numerous others who became family along the way. When he wasn’t working at Royco, Paul enjoyed spending time with his family, travelling the U.S. with his wife and their friends from NH, and renovating and redesigning his home in Princeton. 

Paul remained the President of Royco and a daily presence there to help oversee business operations until his illness would allow him no more. He will be forever loved and missed. 

Funeral Services will be held Thursday, October 17, 2024, from the Boucher Funeral Home, Inc., 110 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA, with a Mass at 11:30 a.m. in Annunciation Parish at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, 135 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA. Burial will follow at St. John’s Cemetery, West Street, Gardner, MA. 

Calling Hours will be held Thursday, October 17, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284, or on their website at (www.heart.org) or to The Glaucoma Foundation, 80 Malden Lane, Suite 700, New York, NY 10038, or on their website at (www.glaucomafoundation.org). Please reference in memory of Paul L. Roy. 

Boucher Funeral Home, Inc., 110 Nichols Street, PO Box 455, Gardner, MA 01440, has been entrusted with the arrangements. 

To leave an online condolence, please visit www.boucherfuneral.com