Thelma Lavallee, 86, of Chicopee passed away peacefully on November 7, 2013 at Wingate of South Hadley. She was born in Springfield on May 5, 1927, the eldest child of the late Harry and Gertrude (Gagnon) Savoit. A lifelong resident of the area, she was communicant of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in the Assumption Church and worked for many years for the Reverend Richard Faucher and the Reverend Gerard Lafleur at the Assumption Church. Thelma leaves her loving husband of 63 years, Wilfred E. Lavallee of Chicopee. She also leaves two sons, Roger E. Lavallee and his wife Cathleen of Windsor, CT and Gerald A. Lavallee and his wife Barbara of Belchertown, along with one sister, Joan Santandrea of Enfield, CT, ten grandchildren, five great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her brother Harry Savoit Jr.
The funeral will be held on Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at 8:45 AM at the Grise Funeral Home, 280 Springfield Street, Chicopee followed by a prayer service at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow in the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Agawam. Family and friends are invited to gather at the funeral home on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 between 4:00 PM and 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Thelma's memory may be made to WestMass ElderCare, 4 Valley Mill Road, Holyoke, MA 01040.