Stephen LaRose

SWANTON / ENOSBURG FALLS - Stephen LaRose, age 53, husband of Karen (Raftery) LaRose, passed away Thursday, April 19, 2012 at the Cancer Treatment Center of America in Philadelphia.

He was born December 12, 1958 in St. Albans the son of Rita (Giroux) Larose and the late Albert Larose.

Steve worked as a painter, roofer, contractor, trucking hay from Canada and general jack of all trades. He owned & operated S & G Painting for many years throughout Vermont and Florida with several years of help from his good friends Mark & Ashley. Most recently he owned and operated The Dam Furniture Store in Swanton with the help of good friends Otis, Bobby & Albert. It was at the Dam Store where Steve applied his knowledge of antiques and his abilities of wheeling & dealing.

Steves many hobbies were watching Jeopardy, basketball, football & baseball, playing BINGO on Friday nights with Karen, scratch tickets, playing cards especially Texas Hold-em, going to the casino, spending time at the campground on Lake Champlain, and visiting with his many friends who will fondly remember him as Barefoot Steve .

He is survived by his wife, Karen (Raftery) LaRose of Swanton. Stephen & Karen were married on March 16, 2001; He is also survived by his mother, Rita Larose of Richford; his mother-in-law, Rose Angie Raftery of Milton; his step children, Gary John Campbell Jr. & Michael James Campbell and his friend Andrea LaBombard all of Swanton; his siblings, Claire Kaczmarczyk her fianc Robert McAllister of Richford, Susan Dussault her husband Pierre of Richford, Larry Larose his wife Linda of Essex, Jean Jewett her husband Daniel of Enosburg Falls, Mary Larose of Enosburg Falls, Diane Lumbra her husband Lloyd of Berkshire, Michael Larose his wife Janet of Enosburg Falls, Barbara Hungerford her husband Thomas of Swanton, Lisa Barnes of Senatobia, MS, Lorraine McAllister her husband Michael of Berkshire, Jeannette Larivee her husband James of Enosburg Falls; his sisters-in-law & brothers-in-law, Sharon Larose of Enosburg Falls, Maureen Bourque of Colchester, James Kip Raftery his wife Jane of Hinesburg, Kevin Raftery of Indian Rock Beach, FL, Tommy Raftery his wife Gail of Milton, Kathleen Hall her friend John Selden of Swanton, Matthew Raftery his wife Tonia of Bakersfield, John Raftery his companion Julie Johnson of Fairfield, Daniel Raftery his wife Carrie of Milton, and Jennifer Allard and her husband Chris of Milton; many nieces, nephews and friends. Besides his father, Steve was predeceased by his brothers, Ronald & Andre Larose; his father-in-law, James Francis Raftery; and his brother-in-law, John Kaczmarczyk.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 28th 2012 at 11:00 AM at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 222 Missisquoi St., Enosburg Falls with Rev. Roger Charbonneau celebrating the Mass of Christian burial. Relatives and friends are invited to join family at a gathering following the Mass at the Enosburg Falls Country Club, 53 Elm St. Enosburg Falls. In honor of Steve all are encouraged to wear their flip flops. There will be no visiting hours.

For those who wish, contributions in Steves memory may be made to Vermont Cancer Research Center, Given E213, 89 Beaumont Ave., Burlington, VT 05405.