Argeo Paul Cellucci, a Hudson native who rose from a small-town selectman to become governor of Massachusetts and ambassador to Canada, died at his home in Hudson this afternoon after a five-year battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease, according to two close family friends. He was 65.

Mr. Cellucci, who served as governor from 1997 to 2001, died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, a degenerative and incurable neurological condition. He was surrounded by family, according to a statement from the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

A memorial service is planned at the State House for later this week in the House chambers. His body will lie in state at the Hall of Flags. A church service will be held at St. Michael’s Church in Hudson. The dates will be announced later.

Mr. Cellucci, whose political experience spanned more than three decades and who never lost an election, was central to the creation of a new brand of Massachusetts Republicans, built on fiscal conservative principles, a strong environmental agenda, and advocacy of liberal social policies.

His close personal and political association with Governor William F. Weld, with whom Mr. Cellucci served as lieutenant governor, set the stage for a Republican resurgence in the 1990s that broke the Democratic liberal grip on Beacon Hill policymaking.....