Charlton/Rochdale - Theresa I. (Dumas) LaPlante, 89, passed away on Wednesday, March 28, peacefully at home surrounded by her family.
Born in Malone, NY, Theresa was the daughter of the late Alfred Dumas and Mamie (LaBrake) Dumas. Theresa married the late Norman LaPlante in 1950 and they were married for 46 years until he passed in 1996. Together they were devoted parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, raising four daughters, including identical twins. Theresa is survived by her beloved family: daughters Karyn and husband Lee Danielian of Southborough; Kathy Kessel and husband John Dennis of Upton; Joy and husband Michael Ayotte of Leicester, and Lori LaPlante and fiancé Mark DiTommaso of Charlton, with whom Theresa ultimately resided. She also leaves her beloved grandchildren: Melynne (Kessel) Shea of Grafton, Erin (Dunlop) Cummings and husband Andrew Cummings of NH, Mark Dunlop of Charlton, Gianna and Jesse DiTommaso of Charlton, and three great-grandsons: Aiden, Jackson and Tyler Shea of Grafton. She also leaves a large extended and much-loved family. She survived her siblings Vivian Southard, Dorothy Jyringi, Kay Jyringi, Dennis Dumas, and Ruth Vinlove.
Theresa graduated in 1948 from David Hale Fanning Trade School in Worcester, MA where she was class secretary and studied printing and graphic arts. During her career, Theresa worked in the printing industry, owned a successful cake decorating business, and was a talented seamstress. Theresa coached women’s softball and basketball, was a Girl Scout leader, and was, together with Norman, tennis instructor. She was also an avid tennis player and bowler and enjoyed poker games with her family and friends. Theresa and Norman were active parishioners at St. Aloysius Church in Rochdale where they taught CCD.
Theresa’s family would like to thank her devoted caretakers from the Overlook (Masonic Home) care community, who, along with her daughter Lori, provided loving care at home in her final years.
Visiting hours will be held on Monday April 2 from 8:30 to 10:30 am in the MORIN FUNERAL HOME, 1131 Main St., Leicester, followed by a funeral mass at 11:00 am in St. Aloysius - St. Jude Church, 489 Pleasant St. Leicester. Burial will follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Waite St., Leicester.