Bernadette LaPlace

1924 - 2014

Bernadette (McPherson) (Etzel) LaPlace, 89, passed away at Southington Care Center on Saturday, January 18, 2014. She was the wife of the late Frank Etzel and the late William LaPlace. She is survived by a son Peter Etzel of Southington, daughters Suzanne Etzel and her wife Donna Rathbun of Middlefield, Lisa Etzel and her husband Rod Welles of Kittery, Maine and her twin granddaughters Alexandra and her husband Steven Nestico and Christine Etzel. Born in New Haven on October 19, 1924, she was the daughter of the late Bernard and Elizabeth McPherson and was predeceased by her brother Howard McPherson. She is survived by several nieces and nephews. In 1952, she and her husband Frank built their house in Durham where she lived until 1976. She was a devout Catholic and while in Durham, a parishioner of Notre Dame Church and was the parish secretary. She was a retired employee of Middlesex Hospital where she worked for over 15 years. In 1976 she moved to Essex and was a member of the Florence Griswold Museum and the CT River Museum. She enjoyed golfing and was a member of the Old Lyme Country Club. She loved to travel especially to the Caribbean; she owned a home in Vieques, PR where she was a member of their Historical Society and the Navy League of the United States.

Friends and family are invited to attend a Memorial Mass to honor the life of Bernadette (McPherson) (Etzel) LaPlace formerly of New Haven, Durham and Essex on Saturday March 1st 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Church 14 Prospect St. Essex, CT. Visitwww.dellavecchiafh.com for online tributes and directions.