ORANGE, MA – Dennis Bouthillier Sr., 81, of Orange, Massachusetts, passed away on February 1, 2026, at Boston Medical Center.
He was born on April 24, 1944, and was the son of Armand “Butch” and Claire Bouthillier (Bernard).
Dennis was predeceased by his beloved wife of 44 years, Crystal Bouthillier (Berry), who passed away in January 2025, and by his grandson, Benjamin Berry, who passed away in 2000.
He is survived by his children: David Berry of Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts; Dennis Bouthillier Jr. of Orange, Massachusetts; Kristen Richard (Bouthillier) and her husband Kyle of Rindge, New Hampshire; David Scott Bouthillier of Lexington, Kentucky; and Alisa Bouthillier of Tampa, Florida.
Dennis is further survived by his siblings: Armand Bouthillier and his wife Pam of Erving, Massachusetts; Gary Bouthillier of Dania Beach, Florida; and his sister Judy Bouthillier of Oregon. He also leaves several nieces and nephews.
He was a proud grandfather to Dennis Bouthillier III, Mason Karpinski, Brady Karpinski, Kaycee Bouthillier, Angel Lea Lermond, Michaela Silcocks, and Samantha Berry, and a great-grandfather to Vivian and Naomi.
For many years, Dennis lived in Florida with his family, where he worked as a dairy herdsman, a role he took great pride in and where he loved tending to the cows. He later worked at Pexco in Athol, where he was employed for 23 years before retiring in 2025. Known for his extraordinarily strong work ethic, Dennis was highly respected by everyone he worked with, and his coworkers honored him with an 80th birthday party – a gesture he deeply appreciated and spoke of often.
Dennis enjoyed watching all kinds of sports, especially golf, football, and women’s college basketball. He also enjoyed bowling, playing cribbage, working on crossword puzzles, and had a strong interest in science and quantum physics. Dennis was a man of few words who appreciated a well-timed joke and reminiscing about bygone days. He loved playing horseshoes and, in recent years, began playing cornhole with his family during their annual Fourth of July celebration – one of his most treasured traditions. He loved flowers and especially enjoyed the lily garden he shared with his wife prior to her passing.
Dennis and Crystal will be laid to rest together at Erving Center Cemetery in the summer.
Witty’s Funeral Home, 158 South Main Street, Orange, is assisting the family.
Click here to sign the guest book or honor their memory with flowers, donations, or other heartfelt tributes