Joseph Larose

Derby Line/Richford- Joseph Remi Whitey Larose, age 77, husband of the late Marie (Ray) Larose, passed away on Sunday August 20, 2017 at the VA Hospital in White River Junction. Remi was born on March 28, 1940, in Sheldon, the son of the late Arsene & Evelyn (Smith) Larose.

Remi attended both Sacred Heart and Richford High School. During his junior year, he left school and enlisted in the United States Navy. Remi was able to attain his GED and complete an Associates Degree while in the military. He served four years in the Navy and was stationed on the USS Boston. During this service time, he was involved in the Bay of Pigs conflict. Remi completed a four-year tour in the Navy but later re-entered the military joining the U.S Army. The Army duty lasted until his retirement in 1980; Remi retired from the Army as a Sergeant First Class. During his Army tour, Remi was stationed in the Republic of Vietnam in 1965 and 1967. The 1967 Vietnam deployment was additionally difficult as it was two weeks after the birth of his daughter Nicole.

While serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Remi met Marie; their first date was on May 10, 1960. They were married on August 30, 1960 at Saint James Church in Haverhill, MA with a honeymoon in Richford, VT. Remi and Marie traveled around the world while he was in the Army. They lived in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Hawaii, Okinawa, and Germany. Upon Remi\u0027s retirement, they established their home in Richford, VT where they lived until re-locating to Derby Line, VT. After Maries death, Remi returned once again to Richford, VT. During this time he built a strong, loving partnership with Laura Ovitt. They both had experienced loss, and so they took good care of each other.

Following his military service, Remi worked for, and then retired from, the US Postal Service as a rural route carrier. During this second retirement, Remi was elected to the Vermont State House of Representatives. He proudly served on behalf of the citizens of Franklin County. Additionally he was proud that he could serve as a positive role model and show people that even a person who dropped out of high school could attain his goals with hard work and determination.

While all of these accomplishments were important, nothing was more important to Remi than being a husband, partner, dad, grampy, brother, uncle and friend. It was easy to identify when someone became associated with him. He was unique in having three names. Remi was his given name and used primarily by family. A towhead as a youth, Whitey was a nickname used by many friends. At 17, when entering the military, he found out his legal name was Joseph. This was supposed to be his Catholic Saint name but had been entered as the given name on his birth certificate.

Remi is survived by his partner Laura Ovitt; his son, Joseph Larose and wife Lisa of St Albans, and their children Lisbeth, John, Noah and Kambree; his daughter Nicole Corbett and husband Brett of Derby, and their daughter Meghan; his brothers Henry Larose and his wife Velma of Leominster, MA and Rosaire Larose and his wife Sharon of Enosburg, VT; his sister, Anita Mayhew of Richford; his brother-in-law, John Ray and his wife Sharon of Rochester, NH, his sisters-in-law, Rita Larose of Richford, Beverly Leveille of Haverhill, MA and Brenda Ray of Amesbury, MA; and many, many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and wife, he was predeceased by his brothers Albert, Arthur, and Ernest Larose; his sisters-in-law Patricia, Phyllis Ray and Irene Larose; and his brothers-in-law Alfred Leveille, Gordon Mayhew, and Richard Ray.

Joes family would like to thank the staff from the VA Hospital for their care during this illness, and the respect and honor they showed following the passing of this veteran.

A time of visitation will be held on Wednesday August 23, 2017 from 4-8 PM at Spears Funeral Home, 96 Dickinson Avenue, Enosburg Falls.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held Thursday, August 24th at 11:00 AM at the All Saints Catholic Church, 152 Main Street, Richford. Family and friends are invited to gather on Thursday prior to the Mass at the funeral home from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM.

Interment will be held at the convenience of the family in All Saints Cemetery in Richford.

For those who wish, in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Make-a-Wish Foundation of Vermont, 100 Dorset Street, Suite 14, South Burlington, VT 05403 or to the Vermont Special Olympics, ATT: Franklin County Maple Leafs, 16 Gregory Drive, Suite 2, South Burlington, VT 05403.