Paul H. L'Esperance

Paul H. L'Esperance, 81, of North Smithfield and Naples, FL, passed away on Sunday, October 12, 2025. He was the beloved husband of Diane R. (Fleury) L'Esperance, to whom he was married to for sixty years. Born in Woonsocket, he was the son of the late Wilfred and Jeannette (Cadoret) L'Esperance.

A graduate of Mount Saint Charles Academy and Roger Williams University, Paul was the proud owner of Wilfred's Seafood in Woonsocket for over thirty years. Known for his generosity, Paul was always ready to lend a helping hand to his friends and neighbors. Paul volunteered his time at numerous charitable organizations, including St. Antoine, Habitat for Humanity, Baby Basics, and Junior Achievement. Paul was a communicant of St. John the Evangelist Church in Slatersville and St. Agnes Catholic Church in Naples, as well as a member of the Rotary Club. In retirement, he enjoyed golfing and socializing with his friends at Vanderbilt Country Club in Naples, FL. Above all else, he cherished his role as a loving husband, father, and grandfather, finding his greatest joy in time spent with his family.

Along with his wife, Diane, he is survived by their two sons, Stephen L'Esperance and his wife, Amanda Lee, of Lake Suzy, FL and Bryan L'Esperance and his wife, Jennifer, of Lincoln; two brothers, Normand L'Esperance, of Pascoag, and Gerald L'Esperance, of Coventry; two sisters, Lucille Langdon, of Georgia, and Estelle Turgeon, of Cumberland; and three grandchildren, Amanda, Brendan, and Jonathan L'Esperance. He was the brother of the late Richard L'Esperance.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, October 17, 2025 at 11 AM in St. John the Evangelist Church, 63 Church St., Slatersville. Burial will follow in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday from 4-7 PM in the Holt Funeral Home, 510 South Main St., Woonsocket. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Paul's memory to a charity of your choice.

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