Obituary of John J. La Vallee

Mr. John J. La Vallee, 83, of Gloversville, died Monday evening, September 27, 2010 at Nathan Littauer Hospital. He was born April 7, 1927 in Acton, Ontario, Canada, the son of the late Joseph and Antionette Couture La Vallee. A 1945 graduate of Gloversville High School, he then served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was employed as a gas foreman at Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. from 1947 until his retirement in 1986. Mr. La Vallee was a member of the IBEW, the Ida McGinness Senior Citizens Club and the 60 Year Club at Niagara Mohawk. A prolific artist for his entire lifetime, John was well-known for his charcoal, oil, watercolor or acrylic paintings of lighthouses, ocean views and country scenery. If you liked one of his works, John would most likely remove it from the wall and hand it to you as a gift. He loved the water and enjoyed his family trips to Maine. On August 26, 1950, John was married to Betty I. Brown who died May 23, 2010. They shared nearly sixty years of marriage together. He is survived by: four children, Sharon A. Coco Louis John, Jr. of Nashua, NH; Michael J. La Vallee Ann Marie of Rockwood, Edward J. La Vallee Karen of Weare, NH and Daniel J. La Vallee of Johnstown; nine grandchildren, Carrie McLaughlin, Louis John Coco, III, Ginger La Vallee, Amber Steele, David Leibowitz, Elizabeth La Vallee, Nicholas La Vallee, Linda Rackmyre and David Rackmyre, Jr. and eleven great-grandchildren. Several nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. John was preceded in death by another son, William J. La Vallee, whose wife, Bonnie La Vallee, survives. He was also preceded in death by all twelve of his brothers and sisters: Tony, Gerard, Jean, Marcel, Paul, Raymond, Robert, Helene, Jacqueline, Marguerite, Rita and Theresa. There will be no calling hours. A private funeral service will take place Friday at the convenience of the family at Walrath & Stewart Funeral Home, Gloversville. Interment will take place at Prospect Hill Cemetery, Gloversville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Research Hospital, P.O. Box 3704, Memphis, TN 38103 or to the American Cancer Society, 260 Osborne Rd; Loudonville, NY 12211.