Dr. Paul E. Dufour

Dr. Joseph Paul Emile "Doc" Dufour, beloved husband of Doris T. (Sancartier) Dufour passed away at his Dracut residence on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 with his family at his side. He was 88.

Born in Lawrence on May 20, 1934, he was the fourth son of Chanel and Bernadette (Hemond) Dufour.

Doc graduated from Central Catholic High School and following a semester at Merrimack College he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard. He proudly served and was stationed in Portsmouth, NH, Long Beach, CA, and Greenland. Upon his discharge he continued his studies at Saint Francis College in Biddeford, ME. He then attended Massachusetts College of Optometry where he earned his Bachelor of Science and Doctorate in Optometry.

Doc and Doris established Dracut's first optometric practice in 1964 where they worked side by side for 37 years before retiring in 2001.

Paul was deeply involved in his community.  He was a communicant of St. Francis Parish in Dracut and the Immaculate Conception Parish in Lowell. Paul served for many years on the Dracut Housing Authority. He was a 4th degree knight with the 4225 Arthur U. Joyal Dracut Council Knights of Columbus, past president of the Ste. Therese Men's Club, and a member of the New England Council of Optometrists. Paul was a founding member and charter president of the Dracut Rotary Club where he was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow from Rotary International which is Rotary's highest award.

Paul provided free vision screening for the members of the Dracut Council on Aging. He was past president of the Massachusetts Society of Optometrists where he was instrumental in passing legislation for continuing education requirements and the use of diagnostic drugs by optometrists.

Paul's family would like to extend a special thank you to the team at Merrimack Valley Hospice and Senior Helpers of Westford for their care and compassion throughout his illness.

Surviving him besides his wife Doris with whom he celebrated 61 years of marriage this past August are his two children and their spouses,  Joseph P.E., Jr  and Eileen (Collins) Dufour, Linda and Michael McHugh; five grandchildren, Joseph Paul E. Dufour, III and his fiancée Danielle Dorme, Stephanie McHugh, Patrick Dufour, Jessica McHugh, and Matthew Dufour; two brothers and sister in law, Emile Dufour, Henry and Margaret Dufour; three sisters in law, Germaine Dufour, Catherine "Rena" Monoxelos, and Leonore Ouellette; and several nieces and nephews. Paul was the brother of the late Chanel Dufour, Rev. Rene Dufour, Rev. Louis Dufour, and brother in law of the late Armand Sancartier Jr, Milton Monoxelos, David Sancartier, Maurice Ouellette and Fred Riley.

Relatives and friends are invited to Paul's Life Celebration at the McKenna-Ouellette Funeral Home, 327 Hildreth Street on Sunday from 2 until 6 PM. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday at 10:00 AM in St. Francis Church, Dracut. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery.