Suzette King LaFleur Memorial

Suzette King LaFleur Memorial in Prescott Park / Portsmouth Fish Pier, Portsmouth NH.

August 12th, 2011

The park is located near downtown Portsmouth on the bank of the Piscataqua River. It has beautiful views of the city, river, piers, bridges, and Navy ship yard. Suzette introduced me to the park back in 2000 when we first started dating. Later we had some pretty spectacular wedding pictures taken there on a pier overlooking Memorial Bridge. The park would often be at the end of a lazy motorcycle ride up the coast. Following services at North Church we'd wander over with coffee in hand. After we'd left NH we'd return from time to time to visit and be sure to stop by the park to see how the flowers were doing.

Prescott Park was one of the reasons Suzette would always call Portsmouth home and looked forward to her eventual return to the city she loved.   

After Suzette's passing, those of us who knew her, who loved and were loved by her, and who missed her beyond words, wanted to do something in remembrance of her. She had not wanted a tombstone in a cemetery, believing those to be a place of death and mourning, and she was all about celebrating life; her ashes were to be spread upon the Piscataqua River in keeping with her wishes.

A memorial bench in Prescott Park, on the side of the Piscataqua , in the city she loved, surrounded by beauty, life and renewal, was the perfect remembrance for Suzette. 

May 15th, 2011

Ann Hartman, a life long friend of Suzette's, made the arrangement to engrave the bench I'd found. A trust was established and contributions made by family and friends. On July 27th, 2011 the bench was completed.

July 27th, 2011

If you knew Suzette, or even if you only know her only by reputation, please take the opportunity to visit her memorial in Prescott Park. Sit and relax, listen to the laughter on the wind, smell the flowers and green grass, see the sun dancing on the water, and know there is good in this world. Then, reminded of what a difference one person's love can make in our lives, make the point to be that person in the lives of those around you. 

In this way we remember Suzee.