HARPSWELL — David Gerard Ducharme of Harpswell, Maine, died on July 9^th at his home with his family by his side after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 61 years old.

Hardworking and compassionate, David’s life was one filled with generosity and kindness.

The second of six children, David was born on May 18^th, 1955 in Providence, Rhode Island to his parents, Donald and Anna Ducharme. The family moved to Duxbury, MA, where David graduated from Duxbury High School in 1973.

In 1977, David moved to Boston and started working as a purchasing agent with the Boston Mounted Police Unit. In 1978, he married his high school sweetheart, Joan Freeley and together they moved to Jamaica Plain.

Throughout their 38-year marriage, David and Joan were partners in every sense—in love, in parenting and in business. In 1987, they left the city seeking a simpler way of life. They moved to Maine to raise a family and open a printing business. They built their home in coastal Harpswell, ME where their two beautiful daughters, Jacqueline and Caroline, grew up.

Together they started Partners Printing, previously known as Kwik Kopy Printing, in South Portland. David and Joan owned and operated Partners Printing for over 29 years. David’s dedication to his customers was unwavering. He led the company with integrity, abundant generosity, and compassion. His customers were friends, his employees like family.

David liked taking care of people. At work he was known for his “good deed of the day”—some gesture or act of kindness to make a difference in someone’s day. He was always known for his stash of chocolates that he would hand out to customers, toll booth operators, waitresses… anyone he thought might need a little pick me up.

David will be remembered for his many loves; a late afternoon round of golf with Joan, handicapping the horses over the phone with his dad and brother Ron, or reading and sharing a good book with his mom and siblings. But his greatest love was his family, and just spending time with them, especially his daughters who were his pride and joy—ever the protector, he will be with them always.

David is survived by his wife Joan (Freeley) Ducharme and his two daughters, Jacqueline Ducharme of Boston, and Caroline Ducharme of Harpswell; his parents Donald and Anna Ducharme of Kingston, MA; his brother Ron of Duxbury, MA; his brother Michael of Johnston, RI; his sister Diane Gardner of Dedham, MA; his sister Ann Ducharme of Johnston, RI; his sister Suzanne Ducharme of Pembroke, MA as well as his many sisters and brothers in law, nieces, nephews and friends who will all miss him dearly.

In David’s memory, a funeral mass will be held on Thursday, July 14th at St. Katharine Drexel Chapel on Mountain Road in Harpswell at 4:00pm. A pre-service gathering with family and friends will start at 3:00 pm in the reception entrance of the chapel. Following the ceremony, a reception to celebrate David’s life will be held from 5:30-8:30pm, at Bailey Island Library Hall, 2167 Harpswell Island Road. All who knew and loved him are welcome to attend.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the South Portland Food Cupboard, 130 Thadeus Street, South Portland, ME 04106.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.FuneralAlternatives.net.

Arrangements are under the care of Funeral Alternatives, 155 Bath Road, Brunswick.