Gabriel J. Daneault

ALLENSTOWN - Gabriel J. "Gabby" Daneault, 87, a lifelong Allenstown resident, died Tuesday, March 20, 2012, at Whittaker Place in Penacook.

He was born in Allenstown on Oct. 29, 1924, the son of Joseph and Lumina (Pincince) Daneault.

A World War II Navy veteran, Mr. Daneault served as a machinist on the USS Baltimore and saw duty in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. He was a member of the John J. Maguire American Legion Post 28, the Suncook Valley Post 2860, the Catholic War Veterans, and the N.H. Veterans Association.

Prior to his retirement, Mr. Daneault worked for the State of New Hampshire for over 32 years as assistant superintendent of buildings and grounds at the Sate House and Annex.

What he enjoyed most, however, was people and politics; and as a result, he became a longtime, familiar figure in local and state affairs. In 1989, he was honored with the title "Town Father" in Allenstown, for he had served on the Board of Selectmen for 36 years, was on the budget committee, and was supervisor of the checklist. He was also a member of the former Club Richelieu. On a state level he was a board member for the Visiting Nurses Association and spent 14 years in the N.H. Legislature as Representative to the General Court.

Mr. Daneault was a communicant of St. John the Baptist Church and again enjoyed being involved in church affairs as a member of the St. Theresa Rosebush Society, the Knights of Columbus Council 4666 and the Msgr. Buckley 4th Degree Assembly. He was also a Trustee of the Old Cemetery Trust Fund and devoted many years without compensation to seeing that the cemetery was well-kept.

Gabby loved being with his family, going to Hampton Beach and, in true New England fashion, the Red Sox.

He was predeceased in 2002 by his wife of 53 years, Cecilia (Martel) Daneault. He was also predeceased by a daughter, Denise Jenness in 2002, and a great granddaughter, Kaleyah Letendre in 2001.

He is survived by a daughter, Louise Letendre and her husband Roland of Allenstown; a son, Ronald Daneault and his wife Deborah (Collette) of Duluth, Ga.; grandchildren, Jennifer Letendre, Jody Moore, Jessica Freese, Rachael Perron, Christopher Daneault, and Derick Jenness; great grandchildren, Kiana Letendre, D'Andre Mitchell, Emma, Madelyn, and Liam Perron, Payton Freese, and Kaylin and Caleb Moore; many nieces and nephews; and a longtime friend, Irene Poisson.

.

services:Calling hours are Friday from 4-8 p.m. at the Petit Funeral Home, 167 Main St., Pembroke, where members of the St. Theresa Rosebush Society will meet at 4:15 p.m. for a prayer service.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Saturday at 11 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church in Allenstown, followed by burial in St. John the Baptist Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the St. John the Baptist Old Cemetery Trust Fund, c/o Edward Emond, 38 Starboard Way, Unit B, Laconia, 03246. The Petit Funeral Home of Pembroke is in charge of arrangements and offers an on-line guestbook at www.petitfuneralhome.com.