Mary Irene (Provencher) LaRochelle

July 07, 2009

FAIRHAVEN – Mary Irene (Provencher) LaRochelle, 86, of Fairhaven, died Tuesday, July 7, 2009, at Alden Court Nursing and Rehabilitation Center after a brief illness. She was the wife of Romeo A. LaRochelle. The couple would have celebrated fifty years of marriage in August of this year. Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Denis and the late Malvina (Cormier) Provencher, she grew up in the city and settled in Fairhaven forty-nine years ago. She was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Church in Fairhaven.

A 1941 graduate of New Bedford High School, she went to work for Pratt and Whitney and later Aerovox, where she worked as a supervisor in quality control for eighteen years until her retirement twenty years ago. She later did much fund raising for the Boy Scouts of America. Mrs. LaRochelle enjoyed babysitting for her grandchildren and spending time with her family.

She is survived by her husband; two sons, Richard J. Lawson and his wife Michelle of Gorham, ME ,and Robert H. LaRochelle and his wife Mary of Morgan Hills, CA; two daughters, Gail I. LeBlanc of Fairhaven and Bonnie A. Gomes and her husband Kenneth of East Greenwich, RI; two step-daughters, June Newby and her husband James of New Bedford and Joyce Spivey of Westport; a sister, Viola Lapre of New Bedford; eleven grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Mrs. LaRochelle was the sister of the late Roland Provencher, Ida Cormier, Loretta Blais, Dora Kirwin, Jeanette Comeau and Claire Alfonso.

Funeral Information

Calling hours will be held Thursday, July 9, 2009, from 5:00-8:00PM in THE FAIRHAVEN FUNERAL HOME, 117 Main Street, Fairhaven. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, July 10, 2009, at 11:00AM in St. Joseph’s Church, Fairhaven. Cremation will follow and interment will be private. To LIGHT A CANDLE, SIGN THE MEMORIAL REGISTER, consult THE GRIEF LIBRARY, or obtain FACILITY DIRECTIONS, please log on to www.hathawayfunerals.com., or telephone 508/994-9471.