Leona Mary Pichette

The family matriarch, Leona M. Pichette 90, a longtime resident of Keene, NH, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on December 22, 2025, at the Maplewood Nursing Home in Westmoreland, NH.

Her parents, Maurice A. and Marie A. (Clang) Beland, welcomed their daughter into the world on March 10, 1935, in Manchester, NH. She grew up in Manchester, Attending Brown Elementary School, West High School, and was a graduate of Lynn English High School.

Leona married the love of her life, Gaston "Gus" E. Pichette, on November 25, 1954. They created many wonderful memories together over their 66 years of marriage. Sadly, Gus passed away on October 24, 2021.

In Leona’s early career, she worked for ten years with the former W.T. Grant Department Store in Keene. She then dedicated 45 years of service as a receptionist and office assistance with The Melanson Company in Keene.

A woman of deep faith, Leona was a longtime parishioner of St. Bernard Church in Keene and sang in the church choir. She was a member of the Court Josephine Catholic Daughters of America and the Junior Council at St. Bernard Church. She was also a member of the Keene Emblem Club #24.

She will be greatly missed by many in her community especially her family, children Vivian M. Jones and her husband Grant of Bedford, NH, Michael E. Pichette and his wife Cheryl of Murrells Inlet, SC, Lucille B. Roberts and her husband Kris of Keene, Deborah A. Hutchins of Troy, NH; ten grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and many extended family members. A sister, Pauline Connors and two brothers, Albert L. Beland and Paul R. Beland, predeceased her.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 11:00am in St. Bernard Church, 185 Main Street, Keene. A committal service will be held on Thursday, January 8th at 11:00am in the chapel at the Mount Calvary Cemetery’s mausoleum, 474 Goffstown Road, Manchester, NH.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mrs. Pichette’s memory to the Maplewood Nursing Home Residents Activity Fund, 201 River Road, Westmoreland, NH 03467.

The family wishes to extend their gratefulness to the staff at Maplewood for the wonderful care provided to Leona while in their care.