AKRON, N.Y. – Deanette Mae LaClair (Eastman), devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt, passed away Thursday, April 16, surrounded by the love of her family and friends.
Deanie, as known by family and friends, was born August 12, 1947, to the late Bernard and Catherine Eastman in East Hardwick, Vt. Raised on the family farm she was an avid horsewoman and big sister. Deanie graduated from Hardwick Academy and the University of Vermont.
She held management positions in municipal and industrial waste treatment in Kentucky and New York. She also worked in Vermont state dairy regulatory services as well as in the quality control lab at Perry’s Ice Cream.
Deanie was quietly active in the community, supporting local school sports to watch her grandchildren play and was a long time member of the Akron-Newstead Senior Center and parishioner of St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church.
While she held many jobs over the years, her number-one vocation was as a wife and mother of five children. Being a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother gave her so much joy, and you could find her knitting or crocheting something for them almost every day of the week.
Deanette is survived by her husband of 56 years, Francis LaClair; daughter, Catherine (Michael) Mohart of Silver Creek; daughter, Denise (Joseph) Hawes of Akron; son, Bernard (Eden) LaClair of Yuma, Ariz.; son, Lawrence (D.J.) LaClair of Tonawanda; brother, Kenneth (Patricia) Eastman of East Hardwick, Vt.; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Donald (Joan) LaClair of Summerfield, Fla; Edna (Gary) Petit of Newport, Vt.; Maurice (Marci) LaClair of Rutland, Vt.; Michael (Wendy) LaClair of Georgia, Vt.; and Mary (Raymond) Perkins of Derby, Vt. Grandchildren include grandson, Joseph (Shanna) Gilvin; granddaughter, Cassiah (Kevin Lidlow) Gilvin; grandson, Aidan Mohart; grandson, Brock (Carlie Warner) Hawes; granddaughter, Emma Hawes; grandson, Mark (Yolanda) Bell; granddaughter, Samantha (Justin) Cardoza; great-grandchildren: Eliza, Peter, Mark, Eli, Noah, Tommy, Anastasia, and Jacob. She is also survived by her devoted canine companion, Mandy, as well dozens of nieces and nephews.
Deanie was predeceased by her parents; her son, Phillip LaClair; mother- and father-in-law Jeanne and Maurice LaClair; and brother-in-law, Brian LaClair.
Visitation will be Tuesday, April 21, from 4 to 7 p.m., at Ross Funeral Home in Akron. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Teresa of Avila Church, 5771 Buell St., Akron, on Wednesday, April 22, at 10 a.m.
Memorials may be made in her memory to Hospice Foundation of Buffalo. Go to rossakron.com
