Tyler Lafontaine

BOSTON, MA - Tyler Allen Lafontaine (33) of Boston, MA passed away peacefully in his sleep in the early hours of Christmas morning of natural causes.

Tyler was born at Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans, Vermont on October 4th, 1989, to Johnny Lafontaine of East Berkshire, and Pamela Trippany of Brownville, Maine. The hole in our hearts will never be filled and Christmas will never be the same.

Tyler was the calmest baby who slept through anything, even his sister picking him up with his little body dangling didn't upset him. Tyler was a stubborn toddler and had no fear. From scaling the couch top reaching for something on the wall, he was mister "I do it". Tyler loved to build bike jumps, teepees, igloos, and forts of all kinds. He was famous for leaving frogs or tadpoles in his pockets after spending hours up at the pond we had in Fletcher.

Growing up, Tyler rode 4-wheelers, snowmobiles, and enjoyed hiking. Tyler had several friends in school and was the first to defend them even if it meant getting in trouble as well. His heart was always in the right place with others. One time in grade school, Tyler was a little entrepreneur and was selling cut out pictures of Victoria Secret models to his friends for money. I will never forget the laughter shared between the principal and me regarding Tyler's shenanigans. Tyler and Amber were always best friends as well as siblings. They climbed trees together and protected each other. Being so close in age, they were connected like twins internally. Tyler spent so many fun summer days and nights camping with my parents at Lone Pine Campground along with Amber where they were spoiled and so loved. My parents were second parents to Tyler while I was a young mother and they made sure he looked stylish and was warm.

In 2011 Tyler enlisted in the US ARMY as Fire Support Specialist where he attended basic training in Lawton, Oklahoma. Tyler looked so handsome in his uniform, and I remember crying happy tears as I watched him graduate. I will never forget the bonding time we shared during these days in Oklahoma. The movie "Real Steel" will always be one I remember the both of us watching and crying through. I will wear his Army ring every day and think of him with a smile.

Tyler had a grin that told you he was scheming something. He lived life his way and didn't follow societies expectations. This is something I will always admire. He was an avid skateboarding enthusiast who up until the day he died practiced in Boston at the skate park. He was an amazing cook who loved preparing food for those he loved and sharing recipes. He knew music and he loved a wide variety of music from Styx to Eminem. He knew the names and words to songs like no other and actually used a record player at times to listen to my dad's records. Tyler enjoyed craft beer and worked at Sam Adams in Boston where he made so many more friends. Tyler spent his most recent days making a better life for himself in Boston (moving there in Feb. 2022) with his girlfriend, Kayla Adiang, who he spent his final night on earth with.

In her words "we met that morning at Time Out Market in the Fenway district of Boston, one of our favorite spots, and took a picture in front of the Christmas tree together. We talked and shared our dreams and aspirations with each other. Tyler knew how to dream big and there was never a day when Tyler stayed away from anything fun. Anyone who knew Tyler knew he embraced every human and every animal with a bunch of love. Tyler made the world a better place." He loved her so very much and went to sleep thinking of her and their future plans of moving in together.

Tyler had demons that he fought every day from past childhood traumas, the losses of his Army buddies, and other personal struggles. With the help of the VA in Boston, Tyler was finally able to find some peace and move beyond so many of his past struggles and hurt and focused his energy on building a better future and making better decisions. The folks at the Boston VA had the most heart-warming things to say about Tyler, noting he was a bright light and a shining success story for vets suffering and struggling to find direction. They were visibly sad.

Tyler loved gaming, and working out with weights, and reading books. He loved the Harry Potter collection, who as a child would look forward to getting the latest book for his series each year. Tyler emitted fun and love and always wanted to fit in, be seen and heard. Tyler could impersonate the best Sponge Bob laugh you've ever heard; he loved to laugh and had the best hearty chuckle around. Tyler checked in daily to say hi and I love you. He gave all of us the gift of his final loving words and the comfort of knowing he knew he was loved by all of us, and he went to sleep looking forward to his future.

Some of Tyler's favorite places to go to reflect, disconnect and reconnect with nature were the Fairfax Falls, the Hippie Hole swimming hole in Montgomery, Hardack Hill in St. Albans, and Jamaica Plain Ponds in Boston. Tyler's favorite foods were shepherd's pie, chicken carbonara and pizza. He loved his first cup of coffee in the morning, just like his mom.

Tyler is predeceased by his paternal grandfather, George Lafontaine in 1973 and his maternal grandfather, Robert Perras in 2019. He is survived by his parents, Pamela and James Trippany of Brownville, ME, and Johnny Lafontaine of East Berkshire, VT; his siblings, Amber "Flip" Lafontaine and her partner, Ryan Legault of Bakersfield, Aliza Lafontaine and her partner, Rider Morse of Hutchinson, KS, Jason Trippany and his wife, Dianne of Highgate, Justin Trippany and his wife Bryanna of Highgate, Jonah Trippany of Berkshire, Sara Broe and her husband, Jeremy of Newport, and Megan Trippany and her fiancé, William Allred of Bangor, ME. Tyler is also survived by his two girls, Aubrey, and Alivia, who he said were always the best parts of him. These little beauties brought a smile to his face like no other, seeing them and spending time playing together was always the highlight of his life. Tyler wanted so badly to make the girls proud and build a life with them in years to come. We all will spend as much time as we can telling them about their Daddy and how much he loved them. My heart breaks for them too. Tyler had the girl's initials tattooed right above his heart, his big, beautiful heart. Tyler is also survived by his paternal grandmother, Denise Lafontaine of East Berkshire and maternal grandmother, Joan Perras of Swanton, who loved him endlessly, as well as several aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and so many friends.

Our hearts will forever be broken. We now have a Christmas angel to watch over us, but the day-to-day life on earth will never be the same. The void is unbearable. I will watch for you in the flight of a bird above, the rustling of leaves in the trees, the ripple in the waves of the water, a warm sunset, a bright sunrise with rays of loving light, and in my dreams my baby boy. I always called Tyler "Bud", and he will forever be my guiding light for all good I do from here on out.

Friends and family are invited to Tyler's life celebration on Friday, January 6, 2023 to include visitation from 10-11:00 AM followed with a memorial service at 11:00 AM with Rev. Dan Brueckner officiating at the Goss Life Celebration Home, 89 Grand Ave., Swanton, VT. A reception will follow at the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary parish hall in Swanton.

I am working with the VA in Boston to create a scholarship for aspiring young chefs in Tyler's name. For those wishing to contribute, please send donations to: Pamela Trippany, 35 Shore Road, Brownville, ME 04414

Goss Life Celebration Homes is the area's exclusive provider of Life Celebration events. Please visit our website to share condolences, photos and favorite memories at www.gossfs.com