DAVID EDWARD LAVALLEE

DAVID EDWARD LAVALLEE - SOUTH HERO - David Edward LaVallee, 77, passed away Tuesday, April 23, 2013, surrounded by his family, in the Birchwood Terrace Nursing Home, following a long battle with Alzheimer's. David was born on Sept. 20, 1935, in Burlington, the son of Dr. Alexander and Helen (Beauchemin) LaVallee. He joined the Navy at a young age and served on the U.S.S. Bennington. On Aug. 23, 1958, he married Clarinda Marquis of Burlington, and together they raised five daughters. David had a long career with IBM in Essex Junction, retiring following 31 years of employment. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and always had his camera to capture the moment. He enjoyed the outdoors, especially living on the lake in South Hero. He and Clarinda resided in Burlington, and later moved the family to the Sandbar in South Hero on Lake Champlain. David was a loving father to his daughters and grandfather to his grandchildren. He was loved and will be dearly missed. He will always be remembered by his extended family of nieces and nephews. David is survived by his wife, Clarinda of South Hero; daughters, Cathy Schultheis and husband, Bill, of Cape Coral, Fla.; Helen Fersing and husband, Derek, and their children, Nicole and Liam, of Milton; Evelyn LaVallee and her son, Justin O'Brien, of South Hero; Carolyn Chevalier of Colchester; and Marilyn Doolin and husband, Michael, and their children, Chelsea, Patrick and Daniel, of Concord, N.C .; siblings, Monty and Sandra LaVallee, Paul and Alice LaVallee, Jackie Crosby, Marilyn and Lou DeForge , Carolyn McKenzie, Rosalyn LaVallee, and Michael Deslandes; and his very close and dear brother and sister-in-law, Roger and Ellen Fay and family. He was predeceased by his parents; and in-laws, May (Rogers) LaVallee, Don McKenzie, and Richard Crosby. David's family would like to thank the doctors and staff at Birchwood Nursing Home for the excellent care given and the devotion to him during his illness. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, April 27, 2013, at 10 a.m. in St. Lawrence Catholic Church, located on West Street in Essex Junction. Burial will follow in Resurrection Park Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held on Friday, April 26, 2013, from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Minor Funeral and Cremation Center in Milton. Online condolences may be made to www.minorfh.com. Memorials in David's name may be made to Birchwood Terrace, Attn: Linnie Aubin - Activity Fund, 43 Starr Farm Road, Burlington, VT 05408; or the VNA Adult Day Program, 1110 Prim Road, Colchester, VT 05446.