BURLINGTON – Patricia Marie (Courchaine) Lanphear passed away at the University of Vermont Medical Center on Saturday, June 28, surrounded by her loving family following a long and courageous cancer battle. Born July 2, 1954, to Elizabeth (Greaves-McNaney) and the late Edward Courchaine in Morristown with a head full of fiery red hair, Pat was the eldest of five children and grew up in Elmore where she attended the Elmore Mountain School and Peoples Academy.
Pat married the love of her life, Calvin Lanphear, on a sunny March morning in 1971 and together they raised three daughters at their home in Hyde Park. Pat embodied loyalty, love and above all, family. She was a mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend to countless throughout her life.
There aren’t enough adjectives to describe the woman we all know and love as Pat (aka Woman, Momma, Mommy, Gramma, Moses, Granny, etc.). Her children and grandchildren described her as selfless, resilient, loving, brave, stubborn, crafty and heroic. She was giving, of her time and love, to those individuals and organizations that meant so much to her. She volunteered hundreds of hours to many community organizations, including the Hyde Park Home Dem (the Halloween parties were legendary), Lamoille County Field Days (best French fries in the state), paper dolls (hence the crafty) and Lamoille Area Cancer Network (the heart and soul of the silent auction tent).
Pat retired from Johnson State College in 2021 after 30 years of service where she was the “Gramma away from home” for so many students fortunate enough to cross her path. You could find her baking, cooking breakfast, laughing and decorating for every holiday to ensure the students felt right at home.
She was the heart of her family: a devoted wife of 54 years, a steadfast mother and the kind of grandmother every child dreams of. Holidays and special events were where she shone. Hand making Christmas PJs, filling Easter eggs long after her grandchildren were grown, creating the best posters for the many basketball games, not to mention the annual trips to Santa’s Village and weekends at Camp. Her rustic camp on Buffalo Mountain, with its double-seater outhouse, was her “home away from home” where countless sugaring seasons fed the bellies of pancake lovers as far West as Seattle and as far East as Italy. Camp also meant quiet weekends where she and Calvin slowed down and spent time with their family.
Pat is survived by her devoted husband Calvin, daughters Allison (Ben) Austin of Kennesaw, Ga.; Kelly Jean (Jason) Picard of Hyde Park and Michelle (Dylan) Laflam of Greensboro Bend; grandchildren Abigail and Anna Kate Austin, Kyle and Kolby (Gabriella) Picard and Chloe and Sullivan Laflam; special great-grand fur baby Lulu; her mom Betty Courchaine and siblings Mark, Holly (Phid) and Scott (Annmarie).
She will also be deeply missed by her many nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws. Holding a special place in her heart is her childhood best friend Gloria Paine and niece and friend Katrina Lanphear.
Pat was predeceased by her father Ed, brother Chris, in-laws Helen and Wyman Sr., Wyman Jr., Pete, Carole, Joe and Wanda, and special nephews Kirk and Keith Lanphear.
A celebration of Pat’s life will be held at the American Legion in Hardwick, on Saturday, August 16, from noon to 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations in Pat’s memory will be lovingly accepted by the Lamoille Area Cancer Network. Online condolences and memories of Pat may be shared with her family at dgfunerals.com.
