Roger Bouffard, center, reacts to a joke told at his expense at a roast given in his honor at The Carriage House in Lewiston on Friday evening. At left are Marcia White, Alan White and his wife, Yvonne Bouffard. On the right are Raymond Perreault and Gloria Perreault. (Andree Kehn/Sun Journal)

LEWISTON — It was like the tear-jerker scene at the end of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Roger Bouffard walked into the Carriage House Friday night not expecting much, just a quiet business function. Instead, he was greeted by a waiting throng of admirers – roughly 200 friends, co-workers and people he has served during more than 50 years in the funeral business.

Bouffard seemed genuinely shocked when he walked through the doors and into that scene. But he wasn’t shocked speechless.

“You comedians!” he thundered. Then he wiped his brow, shook his head and turned back toward the doors. “I’ve got to go back to work, though.”

The crowd roared. They chanted “hip-hip hooray” and held up cardboard cutouts of Bouffard’s face. It was classic Roger, his friends said. And that was why there were signs all over the room declaring: “Roger Bouffard — putting the ‘FUN’ in funerals for 50 years!”

“Roger,” said co-worker Mike Martel, “can make just about anything fun.”

Even before Bouffard walked in, it seemed like everyone in the room had something to say about the man’s many charms.

“A great, great guy,” said Kevin Simoneau, hired by Bouffard 17 years ago and now general manager of The Fortin Group. “A real fun guy to work with. He’s very down-to-earth and he genuinely cares about the people he serves. He’s one of a kind.”

“Generous,” said Peter Arsenault, who has been working with Bouffard since 1984. “A very giving man. He never forgot where he came from. He’s taken excellent care of the business. He’s put all of himself into it for many, many years. He’s just incredible.”

“He knows just about everybody and everybody knows him,” said Ken St. Amand. “He is very well-liked. He’s not just a pretty face.”

Bouffard, a Lewiston High School graduate, entered funeral service in April 1966 before graduating from the New England Institute of Mortuary Science in 1967. In 1973, he became a partner of the Fortin Funeral Directors and The Fortin Group of Lewiston/Auburn.

Bouffard, now in his early 70s, has no plans to retire. He hired a lot of people during his time in the business, and a remarkable number of them are still at his side.

“Everyone here has been around anywhere from 17 to 34 years,” said Lynda Wade, a receptionist, who has been working with Bouffard for a decade. “He’s kind, generous, crazy. He loves everybody and he remembers everyone’s name.”

The surprise party had been planned weeks in advance. Bouffard, who with his wife, Yvonne, has two children and four grandchildren, didn’t seem to have any clue it was coming. He cracked his jokes when he stepped into the room, but the euphoria of the moment was also plain on his face.

“He’s hysterical,” Wade said. “But he’s going to be weeping tonight.”

And he was: Bouffard had tears on his cheeks as he greeted the adoring crowd that had turned out on a rainy Friday to honor him.

And yet, the affair was far from solemn. People who work in funerals are known to let their hair down when gloomy business is done, and the Bouffard party was no different. The party was, after all, half tribute, half roast.

Barber Moe Landry, who has been cutting Bouffard’s hair for 40 years, told a joke. When a man’s hair is thinning in the back, it means he is a great lover, Landry said. When it’s thinning in the front, it mean’s he’s a great thinker.

Bouffard’s hair is thinning in both the front and back, Landry said, “and that means you THINK you’re a great lover.”

That was all the digs Landry had to give. Like the others in the room, he mostly had praise for Bouffard.

“He’s such a fantastic guy,” the barber said. “Always in good humor. I’ve known him for years and I’d stand behind him at any time.”

Martel told a story about the time Bouffard locked his keys in a hearse. Others revealed that there had always been signs that Bouffard was meant for the funeral industry. Roger Michaud, a lifelong friend, quipped that while other teens were out searching for Playboy magazines, Bouffard was content with obituaries. While most kids were partying and playing hockey, Michaud went on, Bouffard was learning to manage the hair of dead people.

Who knew funeral folks could be this funny?

Yet, for every joke and funny story, there were a dozen observations of a more sincere variety.

“He’s fabulous,” declared Jean-Paul D’Auteuil, who’s been working with Bouffard for 15 years. “He always has a smile on his face and he doesn’t take life overly serious. If something happens, he rolls with the punches and just keeps on moving. He’s great to work with.”

As far as Bouffard is concerned, the feeling is mutual, he said. The celebration of his 50 years in the business, he insists, utterly surprised him. Until he walked through the doors at the Carriage House, he had no idea it was coming.

“They got me,” Bouffard said. “They sure did. And it’s just wonderful.”