Wallis Janne Helies Larocque
1941-2021
Wallis Janne Helies Larocque was born in Brooklyn, New York, on the 14th of October 1941, and died in Houston, Texas, on Wednesday, the 26th of May 2021. She was 79 years of age.
Wallis was baptized during the attack on Pearl Harbor and died during the super-moon, full lunar eclipse, blood moon and flower moon: momentous bookends on the life of an extraordinary woman. A strong Christian and passionately patriotic American; she was an enormous influence on and presence in the lives of her family and friends who is, and forever will be, dearly missed.
Wallis was raised in Brooklyn, and attended Berkeley Institute and Geneseo college before becoming a New York fashion model for Bill Blass and Calvin Klein's head model.
She met and married Bruce Thomson, and gave birth to their children, Hugh Ker and Elizabeth Janne, before moving to Houston.
Wallis taught modeling, then started and ran her own interior design company before marrying Arthur Larocque and moving their family to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There she pursued her love of "Art," obtained a Master of Fine Arts, and became a docent at the Pittsburgh Museum of Fine Arts.
Subsequently they returned to Houston in 1980 and Wallis continued her work as a senior docent with the Houston Museum of Fine Arts, and Bayou Bend. Art's career took them to London and they eventually returned home to Houston for the final time in 1988. Wallis would say she loved Houston because "Houston gave her everything she ever asked of it every time she needed it."
Wallis remained married to Art until his death in 2006. A Gift from God, she met and married Richard Kantenberger and they enjoyed a romance and marriage for the ages. Richard and Wallis traveled extensively, entertained, and loved simply being with each other. He taught Wallis about opera, and she was Dick's tour guide to the world. Everywhere Wallis went she built a full life, and an open and welcoming home, and made dear and lasting friends.
Her exceptional home(s) were always the physical embodiment of Wallis. They were filled with color, light, and love. Depending on the season, or the holiday, or the whim of Wallis; each room constantly changed. From a lifetime of collecting, Wallis blended the new with the old, real flowers with plastic ones, the rare with the common, and made it all work. It told her story. It was wonderful. It felt safe and magical. It felt like home and it was magnificent.
In her life, she was a devoted congregant of St. Martin's Episcopal Church, very active in the Junior League and the Doll Club of America. She was as an avid artist and creator. She was a devoted daughter, sister, mother, wife, aunt, grandmother, life counselor, and friend. She gave tirelessly of herself and her resources. Wallis never met a stranger and was quick to offer helpful and empowering advice. Wallis was an amazing mother and devoted and vibrant grandmother. Her life revolved around her beloved family with whom she walked closely through good times and bad. She, a colorful dynamic redhead, was warm, devoted, ferocious, loving, vulnerable, powerful, creative, and genuine, and will be profoundly missed by her family.
She was preceded in death by her grandmother Elsa; her mother Elizabeth; her husband Arthur; and leaves behind her husband Richard; her siblings Tony, Missy and Lucy, and their beloved families; as well as her children Ker Thomson and his wife Rachel, their children Audrey and Bradley; her daughter Elizabeth Scully and her husband Chris, their children Emma, Becca and Kara.
A memorial service is to be conducted at two o'clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 11th of June, at St. Martin's Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road in Houston, where the Rev. Martin J. Bastian and the Rev. Sharron Cox will officiate.
For those unable to attend the service, a livestream will be accessible by visiting Wallis' online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com and selecting the "Join Livestream" icon on the Memorial Service section. There you may also share memories, and words of comfort and condolence electronically with her family.
Immediately following all are invited to greet the family during a reception at a venue to be announced during the services.
In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in memory of Wallis may be directed to the all parish window at St. Martin's, 717 Sage Road, Houston, TX, 77056.