Lawrence Joseph Laba, 83, passed away peacefully Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at Tobey Hospital surrounded by his family. He was the beloved husband of 57 years to Mary Raelene (Staniscia) Laba.
Born in Pawtucket on December 30, 1934, he was the son of the late Nettie (Chestercove) and Walter Laba and attended Franklin public schools, a proud member of the Class of 1953. Dodey and Rae moved to the home he built with his uncle, Joe Chestercove, in Wrentham on Lake Pearl, where they lived for 43 years before retiring to Onset, MA and Naples, FL.
Mr. Laba proudly served in the Navy for four years during peacetime before an honorable discharge.
Before his retirement, he worked for Excel Logistics as a truck driver, owned and operated Walnut Hill Liquors with his wife, and was a member of the Staniscia/Laba family egg delivery business.
Dodey was a longtime league member at Ficco’s Bowl-a-drome, loved fishing, hunting, camping, boating and sitting on his dock on Lake Pearl. He also spent a lot of time walking along the Cape Cod Canal with his wife. He enjoyed animals and birds, eating good food, and drinking Heineken. He was a huge Red Sox, Bruins, and Patriots fan. Most of all, he loved his family, especially Rae “with his whole heart.”
In addition to his wife, he leaves behind his children, Cindy Laba of Boston, Larry Laba and his partner Colleen Camarra of Walpole, and his 101 year-old magnificent Aunt Annie Ruo of Franklin.
His funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 24 in St. Mary’s Church, Franklin at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.
Visitation will be on Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. in the Ginley Funeral Home of Franklin (www.ginleyfuneralhomes.com), 131 Main Street, Franklin.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in his name may be made to Beacon Academy, 477 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 or to MSPCA Cape Cod, 1577 Falmouth Road, Centerville, MA 02632.