Eileen Mary LaFrance's Obituary
Eileen M. (Willett) LaFrance Haverhill - Eileen M. (Willett) LaFrance, 94, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 8, 2022 at the High Pointe House in Haverhill, MA, after a short illness and a long life. A life-time resident of the Merrimack Valley, Eileen was born in Lawrence, MA on April 20, 1928 to Albert and Marion (Herlihy) Willett. Eileen happily resided in Colonial Heights in Lawrence for over sixty years.
Eileen graduated from St. Mary High School and was a dedicated Eucharist Minister and devoted Catholic all her life. Eileen traveled far and wide to important religious sites around the world devoted to Our Lady Mary, including Lourdes, France; Fatima, Portugal; Guadalupe, Mexico; and Medjugorje, Croatia. She also visited the Vatican and many shrines in the United States, Ireland and Canada over the years. Eileen’s faith gave her strength and courage throughout her life.
She was predeceased by her husband of fifty years, Albert O. LaFrance; her first grandson, Michael L. Conte; her brothers, Albert, Frank, William, and James; and sisters, Marguerite “Peg” Tinney, and Elizabeth “Betty” Wright.
Eileen is survived by her six children, Leslie A. Riemitis (Howie Steadman) of Hampstead, NH; Joyce M. LaFrance of Haverhill, MA; James (Kathleen Kinsella) LaFrance of Atkinson, NH; Neal (Pamela Welch) LaFrance of West Newbury, MA; Brian (Mary Ellen Croft) LaFrance of Haverhill, MA; and Pattiann (Russell) Boisvert of Methuen, MA; ten grandchildren, Mark (wife Nadia) and Jay Riemitis; Matthew, Kathryn Rose, Jonathan, Jake, Chris, Mintamir LaFrance; and Joel and Julia Boisvert; two great-grandchildren, Theodore and Cooper Riemitis; sister-in-law, Claire Willett of Tewksbury MA; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Eileen’s family would like to thank the staff at Ivy Hill Assisted Care and the High Pointe House in Haverhill, MA for the loving care they provided to Eileen over the years.
Relatives and guests are invited to attend calling hours on Monday, August 15, 2022, from 4:00-8:00 PM at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home, 233 Lawrence Street in Methuen. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at 10:00 AM at St. Mary of The Assumption Parish, 300 Haverhill Street in Lawrence. Interment to follow at St. Mary-Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Lawrence. In lieu of flowers, donations in Eileen’s memory may be made to Merrimack Valley Hospice, 360 Merrimack St., Bldg #9, Lawrence, MA 0184, Lazarus House, 412 Hampshire St., Lawrence, MA 01841 or St. Vincent de Paul Society, 42 Franklin St., Lawrence, MA 01840. The Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home is honored to serve the LaFrance Family.
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