Obituary of Merle E Lavallee-Pollitt

MERLE LAVALLEE-POLLITT

Merle Lavallee-Pollitt of Danbury passed away on Sunday, March 28, 2021 at the age of 98.

Merle was born in Holyoke, MA on October 30, 1922, daughter of the late George and Evelyn (Mandeville) Ostiguy.  After graduating high school, she married her late husband, Vincent J. Lavallee, while she was working in the City of Chicopee’s Clerk’s Office.

With her infant daughter, Merle followed “Vin” as he was stationed in various places stateside with the U. S. Army Air Corps during World War II, and then came home to raise their four children, Joy Kisling (Rick) of Bethel, CT, Vincent (Marsha) of Alpine, TX, Gary (Ellen) of Searsport, ME and David (Kim) of New Milford, CT.  She also leaves nine grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren and two great, great grandchildren.

In addition to raising her four children, Merle did volunteer work and held various jobs, including at the American Cancer Society and part time at JC Penney.  She loved playing golf and was an avid bridge player throughout her adult life, playing with a couple of groups in the Danbury area.  Merle loved gardening, traveling, music and dancing.  She was also a long-time member and devotee of the Danbury/New Fairfield Women’s Club.

In addition to her mother, father, husband and sister Carol, Merle was predeceased by her second husband, John Pollitt, whom she married in 1989.  Merle loved John’s wonderful family which included seven children:  John Jr., deceased (Julie), Stephen (Kathy), Kathy Hill (Kent), Christopher (Tracey), David, Janice Rosengren (Greg), and Mary Negri (Jim), seventeen grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

Merle and John did a lot of traveling during their years together, played bridge and enjoyed a wonderful group of friends who enjoyed good times together.  She was a beautiful, charming lady, loved by all who knew her.  Merle taught, by her example, the meaning of the word “tolerance”.  Her family members all loved her but the most important thing to her was that they loved each other as well.

Family and friends may visit on Monday April 5^th at Cornell Memorial Home 247 White St. Danbury between 5:00-7:00pm.   A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on April 6^th at 10:00 am St. Joseph Church, Robinson Ave, Danbury.   Burial will follow in Wooster Cemetery.  All current covid-19 regulations will be strictly adhered to, all attendees are asked to wear masks and maintain a proper social distance. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations in her memory to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital, whose work lived deep in Merle’s heart, please visit www.STJUDE.ORG or call 800-608-3023.