Rev. Francis L. Demers, O.M.I.

Rev. Francis L. Demers, O.M.I., 94, died December 24, 2022, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Residence, Tewksbury, Massachusetts. He was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, son of the late Hector and Laura (Pelissier) Demers.

Fr. Demers entered the Oblate Novitiate in Colebrook, NH, on August 1, 1948. He professed his first vows on August 2, 1949. His studies continued at the Oblate Scholasticate in Natick, MA, and he was ordained to the priesthood on June 17, 1955, by the late Bishop Eric MacKenzie. Fr. Demers received his Doctorate in Canon Law at Catholic University in 1958.

He began his ministry as the Director and Bursar at St. Charles House in Washington DC (1957-1960). During this time, he also served as a Professor of Theology at Marymount College. Fr. Demers was the Bursar (1960-1964) and Professor (1960-1966) at the Oblate Scholasticate in Natick, MA. Continuing to minister in the academic world, he served as a Professor of Theology at St. Anselm’s College (1967), before becoming the Secretary to the Provincial in Lowell, MA (1967-1968). Fr. Demers served as the Superior and Bursar at the Oblate Seminary in Bar Harbor, ME (1968) and later returned to the Oblate Scholasticate in Natick, MA as the Superior (1968-1969). His ministry path brought him to serve as the Marriage Tribunal Defender of the Bond for the Diocese of Portland (ME) (1968-1971) and then the Diocese of Manchester (NH) (1970-). In addition, he served as a member of the Oblate Retreat House staff in Hudson, NH (1969-1975) as well as the Chaplain at the Presentation of Mary Academy in Hudson, NH (1969-1975). He was the Superior at the Oblate Retreat House in Hudson, NH from 1975-1991. Fr. Demers served many years in Tahiti (French Polynesia) as a Canon Law Professor at the major seminary and as a Marriage Tribunal Defender of the Bond. Thereafter, he was a member of the Province Preaching Team at The Provincial House, Hudson, NH (1993-1995) and Saint Eugene House (1996-2000), until his retirement at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Residence (2000-present).

In addition to his Oblate family, Fr. Demers is survived by his sister-in-law Lorraine Demers of Manchester, NH, his nieces and nephews, Diane (Chris) LaRose of Manchester, NH, Doreen (Peter) Lewis of York, ME, Daniel (Jenny) Demers of Virginia Beach, VA, and Robert (Linda Harper) Demers of North Arlington, VA. He was predeceased by his brothers and sisters: Gerard Demers, Roland (Mary Inez) Demers, Lucille Demers and Theresa Demers all formerly of Manchester, NH; and nephew, Richard Demers of North Wales, PA and niece, Patricia Demers-Peck of Venice, FL.

Friends and family are invited to Fr. Demers’ Visitation at Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Chapel at 486 Chandler Street, Tewksbury, MA on Monday, January 2, 2023, from 9:00-10:30am. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM. Burial at Immaculate Heart of Mary Cemetery, Tewksbury, MA will be at 11:00am on Tuesday, January 3, 2023.