Muriel L. Bouchard

Muriel Laure (Provencher) Bouchard, 90, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 31, 2026. She was born on September 5, 1936 to the late Ovila and Elise (St. Pierre) Provencher. She was born and raised in Manchester with her twin brother, Jean, and her sister, Francoise.

Muriel lived a life full of compassion, faith, determination, adventure, and, above all, love for her family. She was a woman who knew how to work hard, care for others, make the most of every opportunity, and enjoy the little things that made life special.

Muriel's love of nursing began at age 13 when she started working at Notre Dame Hospital, setting the course for what would become a lifelong career in healthcare. In 1954, she enrolled in the Notre Dame School of Nursing. Of the 28 students who began the program, only 12 graduated. Muriel was among them, earning her nursing degree in September 1957.

Following graduation, she accepted a position with the Veterans Affairs (VA) medical system. On September 20, 1958, Muriel married Paul S. Bouchard. Their marriage spanned 59 years and was the foundation of a family that would become the center of their lives. Together, they welcomed three sons: Marc, Roger, and Daniel.

As her family grew, Muriel made the decision to step away from her professional nursing career to raise her boys. But once a nurse, always a nurse! She maintained her nursing license and certifications for the next decade, and her medical knowledge certainly didn't go to waste. She became the unofficial neighborhood nurse, the person that friends and neighbors could call for advice or medical attention.

In the early 1970s, Muriel returned to nursing. She worked evening shifts at Catholic Medical Center (CMC), allowing her to be home with her children during the day. She later worked as a pool nurse at nursing homes throughout the greater Manchester area before returning to CMC as a recovery room (PACU) nurse. After decades of caring for others, she retired from nursing in 1998.

Retirement didn't mean slowing down for Muriel. If anything, it simply gave her more time to enjoy the things she loved. She always enjoyed immersing herself in a good book and became a regular fixture at the local library. She loved playing tennis and, later in life, became an early adopter of pickleball.

In 1972, Muriel and Paul found their happy place along the shores of Hampton Beach, NH. What began as a family getaway eventually became their retirement home in 2003. Over the years, it became the gathering place for family and friends. Muriel enjoyed the salty ocean breeze, the sound of the waves, the view of the water, and, of course, a lobster roll followed by her beloved coffee ice cream.

Retirement also brought Muriel and Paul the opportunity to escape the NH winters and spend time in Stuart, Florida. Their annual winter trips became a tradition they looked forward to each year. Along the way, they built a wonderful circle of friends, including several of Muriel's former nursing colleagues who also made the yearly journey south.

Throughout her 90 years, Muriel built a career, raised a family, maintained lifelong friendships, embraced new adventures, and never lost her willingness to learn or try something different. She will

be remembered for her compassion, determination, and devotion to those she loved along with all those little moments that made being with Muriel so special. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Paul S. Bouchard; her twin brother, Jean Provencher; and her sisters, Francoise Durette and Therese Provencher.

She leaves behind her three sons, Marc, Roger, and Daniel; her daughter-in-law, Susan, wife of Daniel; and her two grandchildren, Matthew and Trevor. She also leaves behind many extended family members, friends, former colleagues, and neighbors whose lives she touched.

SERVICES: Calling hours will be held on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at Lambert Funeral Home, 1799 Elm St. in Manchester from 5pm - 7pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, November 13, 2026, at Ste. Marie Parish, 378 Notre Dame Ave in Manchester at 10am. Please meet directly at church. Burial will follow graveside at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Cancer Society as Muriel was a breast cancer survivor at American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741.