Obituaries
Obituary for Marie A. Lavallee
PEORIA – Marie A. (Kovarik) Lavallee, 87, of Peoria passed away on Tuesday, May 24, 2016, at California Care Center in California, Mo.
Marie was born on Oct. 19, 1928, in Peoria to the late Rudolf and Rosalie (Kopriva) Kovarik. She married Bernard L. Lavallee on May 22, 1954, at St. Bernard's Catholic Church. He preceded her in death.
She was also preceded in death by her brother-in-law and one nephew.
She is survived by her sister, Rosemary (Kovarik) Venable of Oroville, Calif.; her four children, David L. (Mary Beth) Lavallee of Washington, Ill., Margaret T. Kemper of Jefferson City, Mo., Jean M. (Paul) Allen of Edelstein, Ill., and Mary P. (Gary) Scheffert of Peoria; ten grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two nieces.
Marie was a 1946 graduate of Peoria High School and attended Monmouth College. In 1953, she graduated as a Registered Nurse from St. Francis School of Nursing in Peoria. While visiting her sister, Marie worked for a short time as a surgical nurse in Williams, Ariz. It was in nearby Flagstaff that she met her future husband, Bernard, of Burlington, Vt., who was also temporarily living and working there. They returned to Peoria to be married. Although Marie kept her nursing license active until retirement age, she chose to forgo a nursing career in order to raise a family.
They were parishioners of St. Philomena Catholic Church.
Marie enjoyed reading, cooking and baking, sewing, gardening, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, and music. She took great pride in her roles as wife, mother, and homemaker. Always available to her family, Marie taught her children good manners, self-reliance and perseverance, the value of practical knowledge, a strong work ethic, and appreciation for life's simpler joys. She had an excellent memory, a pragmatic point of view, and a quick, dry wit. In their later years, she and Bernard enjoyed many relaxing summers together in northern Minnesota. They also traveled extensively within the continental U.S. They loved watching classic movies, westerns, and countless baseball games together, faithfully cheering on their favorite, the Chicago Cubs.
The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to all who provided medical, social, or pastoral care during Marie's final years, and to neighbors, friends, and extended family for their support and prayers.
Cremation rites have been accorded and her ashes will be interred at Resurrection Cemetery and Mausoleum in North Peoria, alongside those of her husband. Catholic Masses are being offered for her intention.
Memorials may be made directly to the Stritch School of Medicine Research Fund, Loyola University of Chicago, at http://www.luc.edu/giving/whattosupport/collegesandschools/.
Friends may sign the online guestbook or send private condolences by logging onto www.wrightandsalmon.com.
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Marie was born on Oct. 19, 1928, in Peoria to the late Rudolf and Rosalie (Kopriva) Kovarik. She married Bernard L. Lavallee on May 22, 1954, at St. Bernard's Catholic Church. He preceded her in death.
She was also preceded in death by her brother-in-law and one nephew.
She is survived by her sister, Rosemary (Kovarik) Venable of Oroville, Calif.; her four children, David L. (Mary Beth) Lavallee of Washington, Ill., Margaret T. Kemper of Jefferson City, Mo., Jean M. (Paul) Allen of Edelstein, Ill., and Mary P. (Gary) Scheffert of Peoria; ten grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and two nieces.
Marie was a 1946 graduate of Peoria High School and attended Monmouth College. In 1953, she graduated as a Registered Nurse from St. Francis School of Nursing in Peoria. While visiting her sister, Marie worked for a short time as a surgical nurse in Williams, Ariz. It was in nearby Flagstaff that she met her future husband, Bernard, of Burlington, Vt., who was also temporarily living and working there. They returned to Peoria to be married. Although Marie kept her nursing license active until retirement age, she chose to forgo a nursing career in order to raise a family.
They were parishioners of St. Philomena Catholic Church.
Marie enjoyed reading, cooking and baking, sewing, gardening, crossword and jigsaw puzzles, and music. She took great pride in her roles as wife, mother, and homemaker. Always available to her family, Marie taught her children good manners, self-reliance and perseverance, the value of practical knowledge, a strong work ethic, and appreciation for life's simpler joys. She had an excellent memory, a pragmatic point of view, and a quick, dry wit. In their later years, she and Bernard enjoyed many relaxing summers together in northern Minnesota. They also traveled extensively within the continental U.S. They loved watching classic movies, westerns, and countless baseball games together, faithfully cheering on their favorite, the Chicago Cubs.
The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to all who provided medical, social, or pastoral care during Marie's final years, and to neighbors, friends, and extended family for their support and prayers.
Cremation rites have been accorded and her ashes will be interred at Resurrection Cemetery and Mausoleum in North Peoria, alongside those of her husband. Catholic Masses are being offered for her intention.
Memorials may be made directly to the Stritch School of Medicine Research Fund, Loyola University of Chicago, at http://www.luc.edu/giving/whattosupport/collegesandschools/.
Friends may sign the online guestbook or send private condolences by logging onto www.wrightandsalmon.com.
Cemetery Details
Location
Resurrection Cemetery & Mausoleum
7519 N Allen Rd
Peoria, IL 61614
Memorial Contribution
Stritch School of Medicine Research Fund, Loyola University of Chicago
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