Adelard "Del" W. Cournoyer

Charlton...Adelard Walter Cournoyer, Jr. passed away peacefully on May 8th, 2026, age 92, at the Overlook Masonic Home in Charlton, MA.

Adelard Walter Cournoyer was born on June 17th, 1933, to Adelard Walter and Loda (Fafard) Cournoyer in Southbridge, MA.  He graduated from Assumption Prep School and then Assumption College in Worcester, MA, then from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy in Boston, MA, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy Studies in 1957. After college, he worked as a sales representative for Eli Lilly and Company.  In November 1958, he married Jane-Louise Demers, also of Southbridge, at the Notre Dame Church in Southbridge.

Del and Jane-Louise lived first in Leominster, MA, then moved to Acton, MA, where they lived until 2016.  Adelard worked at, owned and operated the Acton Pharmacy in West Acton, MA from the mid-sixties until 1997–transforming the store from an old-fashioned “drug store” with a soda fountain to a more modern pharmacy with compounding and even homeopathic remedies. Del was known for his relationships and service, and went the extra mile particularly for his elderly patients whenever they needed him.

In 1969 they adopted their son, Jeffrey David, and then in 1972, they adopted their daughter, Sharon Louise. Del was proud to be able to send Sharon and Jeff to fine schools and colleges, and to give his family opportunities to travel–they visited Spain, Morocco, Mexico, Bermuda, Italy, Greece, Russia, Finland, Scotland, China, and many other places, spending two memorable summers visiting almost all of the National Parks in the United States and Canada. Del and Jane loved their home in Vero Beach, Florida, and moved back to the Southbridge area for their final years.

Del adored Jane, and they were married for 64 years until he lost her in 2024. He is survived by his children: son Jeffrey Cournoyer and daughter-in-law Lisa Cournoyer of Pepperell, MA; daughter Sharon Howell and son-in-law Tom Howell of St. Johnsbury, Vermont; as well as three grandchildren, Caroline Cournoyer (24), Ethan Howell (23), and Maggie Howell (20).

A celebration of Del’s life will be held at The Overlook’s Nicoll Chapel, 88 Masonic Home Road, Charlton, MA 01507, at 10:30am on Saturday June 13th, 2026.  Burial will follow at St. George’s Cemetery, Paige Hill Road, Southbridge, MA 01550, followed by a reception at the Publick House in Sturbridge, MA at 12:00pm.

In place of flowers, donations in Del’s memory can be made to the Adelard and Loda Cournoyer Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Boston, MA.

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