CHICOPEE – Therese B. (Deslauriers) Lapolice, 98, of the Aldenville section of Chicopee, was Called Safely Home on January 20, 2024 at the JGS Lifecare in Longmeadow surrounded by her loving children. Affectionately known as “Cupie”, she was born on April 18, 1925 in Chicopee, a beloved daughter of the late Jeanne (Paquette) Deslauriers and Arthur J. “AJ” Deslauriers. She was a lifelong resident of Chicopee and graduated from Holy Name High School in Chicopee in 1943. She furthered her education by attending Northeastern College in Springfield and pursued her interest in singing by attending Julliard in New York. Her attendance there was brief as she was needed back home to help run the family grocery store. During World War II, she also worked as a teller at the Aldenville Credit Union and as bookkeeper at both Stevens Arms of Chicopee and at the Armory. Her love of music inspired her to take both piano and voice lessons.Throughout her life, she sang in various choirs and performed for the military at Westover Air Force Base and in AJAC’s sponsored variety shows, both in Chicopee.
In addition to her musical talent, she continually sought to educate herself in many aspects of life especially in the areas of health and finance. She retained numerous reference materials throughout her life and put a lot of effort and time into imparting her acquired knowledge to those she loved. “Doctor Mom” would surprise her own doctors many times with her vast knowledge of medical terms and issues. She watched mostly news and educational programs, though she did appreciate a comedy now and then including “All in the Family” and “Frasier”.
Therese was predeceased by her loving husband of 66 years, Xavier “Ziggy” Lapolice; her sister, Mary Jane Adams and husband Marcel; and her brother, Gerard Deslauriers and wife Lucille. She leaves her beloved sister, Cecile Deslauriers of Agawam: her four loving children, Norman and his partner Valerie of Rhode Island; Leonard and his wife Marie of West Springfield, Jeannine Millett and her fiancé Gary Lussier of Chicopee and Celeste Vautrain and her husband Daniel of West Springfield; her daughter-in-law, Susan Beech of Florida; her six grandchildren and four great grandchildren; and her many nieces, nephews and cherished cousins.
Her relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at Sainte Rose de Lima Church, 594 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Her burial will be private at Saint Patrick Cemetery in Chicopee. Her visiting hours will be private at the St. Pierre-Phaneuf Aldenville Chapels, (413-532-9806), 13 Dale Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. The parking lot and main entrance of the funeral home are located in the rear at 20 Lafayette Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to Sainte Rose de Lima Church, c/o 15 Chapel Street, Chicopee, MA 01020 or Saint Joan of Arc School, 587 Grattan Street, Chicopee, MA 01020. For more details and to leave her family condolence messages, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com