Maurice LaRose

Maurice Raymond LaRose, age 82, of Church Street, St. Johnsbury, passed away at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH, following a brief illness on Tuesday, July 25, 2017, surrounded by his loving family.

Maurice was born in St. Johnsbury, VT, on March 30, 1935, son to the late Osias and Paula (Lussier) LaRose.   He was raised and educated in St. Johnsbury and during his high school years attended Seminary School in Bucksport, Maine, where he studied for the Roman Catholic priesthood. He then attended Lyndon State College at which time he met the love of his life, the former Ruth Marie Amidon, marrying her on May 1, 1954, and sharing 63 years together. They made their home in St. Johnsbury raising five children and moving to Danville in 1971.  Maurice worked for Goss Tire for over 20 years and then established LaRose Public Trucking in 1969 which he ran until his retirement in 1996.  He built a new home in Danville in 1987 and lived there until they moved back to St. Johnsbury in 2007. They wintered in Florida for over 15 years with the last several being in Webster.  Throughout the years, Maurice was very active at St. John the Evangelist including ushering, teaching religious education classes with Ruth, and volunteering whenever needed.  He tutored students in French, his first language, and he spoke Spanish as well.  He and Ruth loved camping, traveling the East coast from Prince Edward Island to Florida.  They were avid motorcyclists and square dancers, and Maurice spent many springs sugaring, both in Monroe, NH, with his son-in-law and at his home in Danville.

Maurice is survived by his beloved wife, Ruth, of St. Johnsbury and his five children: Susan Pierce and her husband, Wayne, of Essex Jct.; Jeanne Ward and her husband, Denis, of Monroe, NH; Thomas LaRose and long-time companion, Jacqueline Lumbra, of Danville; Marc LaRose and his wife, Diane, of St. Johnsbury; Patricia Pallis and her husband, Joseph, of Tolland, CT.  He is also survived by eight grandchildren (Jessica Pierce, Aaron Pierce, Kaitlin Ward, Jackie Ward, Jon Pallis, Maggie Cofrancesco, Sam Pallis, and Jay Handy) and six great-children (Mercy, Michael, Mattingly, Maddax, Abel, and Quinn).  He is also survived by his two sisters (Yolande Bates of Waterford and Jacqueline Greenwood and her husband, Robert, of Webster, FL) and many wonderful cousins and nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by a brother, Paul LaRose, and a sister, Theresa Bessette.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 AM on Saturday, July 29, 2017, at St. John the Evangelist Church on Winter Street in St. Johnsbury with Rev. Fr. Curtis Miller as celebrant.  Burial will immediately follow at the Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

Friends may call on the family from 6-8 PM on Friday the 28th at the Sayles Funeral Home, 525 Summer Street in St. Johnsbury.

Memorial Donations may be made to Good Shepherd School, 121 Maple Street, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819.

Condolences may be shared with the family at www.saylesfh.com.