Pauline E. Gaudette

All who knew and loved Pauline Estelle (Chalifoux) Gaudette hold this truth to be self-evident: that on August 21, 2024, our Lord God and Savior called Pauline from her loving husband and children at Lawrence General Hospital to immediately seat her at His table in heaven. 

Pauline was born to the late Arthur and Diana (Desjardins) Chalifoux in Lowell on December 15, 1934, the youngest of six children. She graduated from the St. Louis Academy in Lowell. Just after their 19th birthday, Pauline married Robert P. Gaudette, Sr. at what is now Ste. Marguerite D’Youville Parish in Dracut. It was a marriage that was to last 70 years.

Pauline and Robert had eight children together, and Pauline was the glue that bound the family together. She cherished time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and, most especially, her beloved husband, Robert. She also loved animals, both wild and tame, and was an avid bird watcher.

Pauline spoke English and Québécois, and immensely enjoyed visiting Québec and Montréal, her ancestral home. She had a wonderful sense of humor: to her, a “good doobie”, especially accompanied with a peace sign, described anyone whom she was highly affectionate of. 

The Bible calls us to “give as decided in your heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Pauline, a devout French Canadian Roman Catholic, took this to heart; cheerful giving was her life’s work.

Pauline gave her time, energy, and boundless love to her eight children, always (and constantly) caring for them. She gave her full support to every aspect of her husband’s entrepreneurship throughout their married life. Most recently, she was an integral part of Future Supply Corp. of Londonderry, NH, a family business that continues to thrive some 35 years after it was founded. Behind the scenes, she gave her all to ensure the success of her husband’s professional choirs. Later in life, she gave generously—and always quietly—to the Church, to charities, to families, and to friends alike. She quite literally gave everything she could.

Pauline only knew how to give. And she never expected anything in return. A careful observer might conclude that, in fact, Pauline only knew how to love.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her eight children, Ronald R. Gaudette of Newton, MA, Richard A. Gaudette of Danville, NH, Donna M. Balsamo and her husband Anthony of Salem, NH, Marilyn F. Hillner and her husband Mark of Salem, NH, Robert P. Gaudette, Jr. and his wife Mary Lou of Brentwood, NH, Edward A. Gaudette and his wife Tammy of Salem, NH, Paula A. Gaudette of Salem, NH, and Laura L. Berry and her husband Michael of Plaistow, NH; 14 grandchildren, Joshua Gaudette, Jeremy Gaudette, Nicholas Balsamo, Sarah Duchemin, Julie Parsons, Allison Hillner, Robert F. Gaudette, Joseph Gaudette, Andrew Gaudette, Jennifer Benson, Emily Gaudette, Stephanie Sullivan, Amanda Berry, and Holly Berry; three great-grandchildren, Nicolette Estelle Duchemin, Kylie Parsons, Owen Sullivan; and many nieces and nephews.

She was the sister of the late Arthur Chalifoux, Edmond Chalifoux, Leon Chalifoux, Diana (Chalifoux) Gagnon, and Yvette Chalifoux.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Pauline’s wake at the MCKENNA-OUELLETTE FUNERAL HOME, 324 Hildreth St, Lowell, on Wednesday, August 28, from 4:00 to 7:00PM. Her funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday at 11:00AM at Ste. Margueritte D’Youville Parish in Dracut. Her burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Chelmsford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Pauline’s memory to L’Oratorie Saint-Joseph du Mont-Royal, 3800, chemin Queen-Mary, Montréal (Québec), Canada, H3V 1H6 or to the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, MSPCA-Angell, Attn: Donations, 350 South Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02130. 

Pauline, you were a good doobie. Peace.