Alfred "Les" LaBonte

Alfred L. LaBonte

1947 - 2018

South Hadley – Alfred Leslie “Les” LaBonte, 70, completed his journey to the Lord on Monday evening with his loving wife by his side. Les was born in Holyoke, moved to Chicopee in 1954 and was a graduate of Chicopee Comprehensive High School. He entered the United States Navy in January of 1967. He was a member of the Aircraft Fife and Rescue Team, stationed in Tennessee, Florida and the Philippians before being honorably discharged in October of 1972. He attended UMASS and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry. Les held various jobs at Hamilton Standard, the Broadbrook engineering plant, Eastman Kodak, and worked for Johnson & Johnson, where he served as a service technician of Blood Analyzers throughout New England, New York and Pennsylvania. Les was a brave, honorable, and generous man. In 1988, he donated a Kidney to a daughter of a close friend and while in Florida he pulled a pilot from a crashed cockpit. An avid outdoorsman, he once saved a girl from drowning while in Vermont. Les dedicated countless hours giving back to those in need through mission trips all over the world. He leaves his wife of 45 years Susan E. (Spencer) LaBonte; three daughters and their husbands; Emily and Shawn O’Rourke, Sadie and Arthur Dybizbanski, and Alyssa and Keith Sullivan ; eight grandchildren Ryan, Anna, Adam, David, Olivia, Zachary, Cameron and Eleanora. He leaves his sister; Carolyn Hinks, and also his step-siblings Melanie Liddy and William Morgan. Sadly, he was predeceased by a granddaughter Eva. A celebration of life service will be held at Second Baptist Church, South Hadley, Sunday, April 8th at 2:00pm. The Curran-O’Brien Funeral Home is handling all arrangements. For more details please visit curranobrien.com. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Springfield Rescue Mission in memory of Les and all the ways he has always given back to those around him regardless of circumstance.