Therese M. Dufour

Therese M. Dufour, 98, entered the gates of Heaven on Friday, January 3, 2025. She was a resident of Schenectady Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing on Altamont Avenue. Therese was born Therese Melda LaPerriere on December 26, 1926, to Arthur J. LaPerriere and Eliza (Souliere) LaPerriere, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, where she was raised and where she married her husband, Donald Dufour.

In 1979, Therese and Donald relocated to Baltimore, Maryland, to be near their oldest son. They became members of St. Agnes Parish, and the Lamb of God community in Catonsville. While Donald worked as a carpenter, Therese was active in her community, serving others and performing God’s work wherever needed. After years of caring for her own children and grandchildren, she spent a great deal of time caring for and bringing up children in the Baltimore area. In particular, Ed and Karen Stokes “adopted” Therese into their family. Adam, William and Eliza were all recipients of Therese’s endless love and attention for many years.

In 2014, following the loss of her husband and sons, Therese moved to Schenectady, NY, to be with her twin sister, where she could receive an abundance of love from family. Her niece, Diane, was especially attentive, visiting her each week seeing to her needs and bringing a favorite treat – shrimp cocktail! 

Therese was blessed with a zest for life, an unwavering faith, and an interminable resiliency. Although she suffered much loss and endured incredible heartache, she turned to scripture for comfort, aware that “affliction produces endurance and hope” (Romans 5:4). Therese would often say, “You need to make your own joy!” She continued to find the good in living and was always grateful for the gifts bestowed on her. Her exuberant joy and infectious laughter will live on in all who knew her. 

Therese is survived by her daughter-in-law, Cloie Dufour; grandsons, Liam Robert Dufour (Katie) and Christopher Donald Dufour (Jeanette Caldwell); granddaughter, Giselle Marie Dufour, and two great-grandchildren, Anya Rose Dufour and Jonathan Joseph Dufour. In addition, she is survived by countless nieces and nephews, including Marguerite’s daughters - Diane, Denise, Dorothy, Suzanne and Lisa, who became Therese’s surrogate children for the last fifteen years and were devoted to her care. 

Besides her parents and husband, she is predeceased by three sons, Robert “Bobby”, Michael, and Mark Dufour; her twin sister, Marguerite V. Broady, three brothers, Arthur J. LaPerriere, Jr., Conrad A. LaPerriere (Therese) and Leopold R. LaPerriere (Jeannette), two additional sisters, Dorothy J. Almeida (Frances) and Bertha LaPerriere.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on February 4th at 9:00 a.m., St. Paul the Apostle Church, 2777 Albany Street, Schenectady. Internment will take place in Baltimore, Maryland, at a future date. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/) in her honor.