Rolande Gauthier Paterson

Rolande Gauthier Paterson, 103, died peacefully with her family by her side at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, she was raised and educated in Montreal. In January 1946, she left Montreal to marry Roland J. Gauthier, a WWII US Navy Veteran. Roland made the Navy a career, retiring as Master Chief and later went to work for NASA as a missile engineer. He died in 1965 of pancreatic cancer and Rolande was left with four children, Elaine 18, Denise 15, Michelle 12, and Michael 7. Since the family was living in Germany at the time of Roland’s illness, they were medically evacuated to Boston, as Roland was placed at the Chelsea Naval Hospital being a Naval retiree. After Roland’s death, Rolande ensured that her 4 children received college educations as well as an education for herself which eventually led to her being an accountant. In the late 1970’s she married Malcolm M. Paterson, an engineer from Scotland, who later worked for the State of NH. He died in 2000 of a stroke. She was a resident of Stoughton since 2014, previously living in Rochester, NY, Cambridge MA and was a resident of Lee, NH from 1975-2004. She became a US Citizen in 1946 and had many interests, the two being her most favorite were watercolor painting and knitting.  Her family has many paintings and sweaters which are highly treasured. She also volunteered in her retirement years to do tax returns for the elderly. She was a talented seamstress and enjoyed spending time with her family in her free time.

Rolande is survived by her children, Elaine A Gauthier (former Lee, NH Town Administrator) of Stoughton, Michelle E Gauthier and her partner Margot Levy of Dedham, Denise Cameron and her husband Dan of Lunenburg, and Michael P Gauthier of Rochester, NY. She was the grandmother of Sean Conroy and his fiancé Annabelle Ho of Dedham and Heather Mellone and her husband Vin all of Dedham, Laura Lauzze and her husband Joe and Jonathan Gauthier all of CO and Elyse Gauthier of Los Angeles, CA. She was the sister of Denise Lepine, Rene Lepine and Monique Lepine, all of Canada and the late Pierrette Lepine. She also survived by her four great grandchildren, Leah, Annabel, Renee and James Mellone all of Dedham and several nieces and nephews.

A Visiting Hour will be held in the Farley Funeral Home, 358 Park St. (Rte. 27), Stoughton on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 from 11AM-12PM with Funeral Prayers following at 12 PM. Donations in Rolande’s memory may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.