Montcalm J. “Larry” LaRochelle, 86, of Mendon Rd. Cumberland died Monday at Landmark Medical Center. He was the loving husband of Jeannette M. (Dumont) LaRochelle. They were married on November 24, 1949.
Born and raised in Manville he was a son of the late Adolphe and Edouardina (Gouin) LaRochelle.
Mr. LaRochelle was a veteran of the United States Army serving in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. He received the Victory Medal and the Army of Occupation Medal. He taught dancing for Arthur Murray studios while in Japan.
As a boy he learned to play the guitar, harmonica, sing and yodel. He often would demonstrate his musical ability for local residents, riding on a horse and singing for people in Manville, and won a number of awards in the process.
Mr. LaRochelle was employed at a tool grinder in Whitinsville and worked with Raytheon and Northcross Aviation. He was a skilled precision tool maker and was approached to make a specialized tool that 85 other companies had failed to make. He was successful in producing the needed part according to the specifications to within one-millionth of an inch.
Larry and Jeannette moved to Florida in 1972 and resided in Pompano Beach. He worked for Southeast Broach Co. in Sunrise for 10 years. He later ran his own machine grinding business. They moved to Edgewater and he went to work for a company tooling parts for rifles for the Army. Larry enjoyed his work and tried retirement a few times but ended up going back to work.
Mr. & Mrs. LaRochelle celebrated their Golden wedding anniversary, and renewed their vows, on a cruise ship in Hawaii. At the celebration they were entertained by the Hawaiian legend Don Ho & Ensemble.
Larry was an avid bowler in FL and locally at Walnut Hill. They also visited California and Las Vegas (including a 100-lane bowling lane in Reno, Nevada) and many other parts of the country in their motor home. After living in Florida for 34 years Larry & Jeannette moved back to Cumberland in 2006.
Larry loved to laugh and tell jokes, reminisce about his early years, his working career and his love of music. Larry was in love with his bride and they celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary on November 24, 2013. They were always in love as a couple.
In addition to his wife he is survived by a brother Robert LaRochelle, and his wife Victoria, of Woonsocket, and many nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Constance (LaRochelle) Lambert.
His funeral will be Friday at 9:00 am from the Menard-Lacouture Funeral Home 127 Carrington Ave., Woonsocket followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 am in St. James Church, Division St., Manville. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, West Wrentham Rd. Cumberland. Visiting hours are Thursday from 3-6 pm. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association P.O. Box 417005 Boston, MA. 02241.
www.menardfuneralhome.com