Charles Augustus Tanguay

Charles A. Tanguay passed away on February 24, 2025, after a brief illness at the NH Veterans Home in Tilton, NH. He was born in St. Henedine, Canada on May 26, 1926, to Arthur and Alice Tanguay (Turcotte). After living in Canada briefly with his siblings, Bernadette, Ida, Evelyn and Hervey, he moved to the United States and ultimately resided in Lawrence, MA, and acquired US Citizenship. 

He served active duty in the U.S. Navy during World War II, first being trained as a Navy Seabee, and later working on the Minesweeper and Salvage Ship, the USS Woodcock, as a Seaman First Class, protecting and assisting ships in the Panama Canal. He served in the Navy from April 1944 to May 1946. After he completed his service, he worked in the Lawrence Mills, and under the GI Bill of Rights, he went to school to become a Master Barber. In the 1960s, he changed his career again, took classes at Lowell Tech (now UMass Lowell) and became a draftsman working on mechanical engineering projects in Nashua, NH, for IMPCO (Ingersoll Rand). He loved the Red Sox, as well as reading and playing cards with his friends. However, there was nothing he loved more than his family.

Charlie, as he liked to be referred to, met the love of his life, Aldea Tanguay, on Memorial Day following a parade into Sacred Heart Cemetery. Charlie and Aldea exchanged letters throughout his service in World War II and were married at Saint Anne’s Church in Lawrence, MA, on April 10, 1948. They welcomed three children: George, Dennis, and Debra. 

Charlie was predeceased by his wife, Aldea (2008) and son, Dennis (2020). He is survived by George and Barbara Tanguay of Aurora, CO, their children and their spouses, Jeffrey Tanguay, Jessica Tanguay and Zach Frick, Julia Tanguay and Chris Ward, and his great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Bryson, Luca, and Kyler. Debra Tanguay and Henry Mok, of Londonderry, NH, and their children, Jonathan Mok and Lauren Mok. His grandchildren and their spouses, Amy Tanguay, Chris Tanguay and Melanie Tanguay, and his great grandchildren Kieran and Brandon, of Sugarland TX (children of Dennis and Rhonda Tanguay). 

A private Celebration of Life, to honor Charlie, will take place this summer.