Hampton – Laurence Yvonne Lamothe Pappademas died peacefully at home on Monday, May 6, 2019 surrounded by family. She was born is Woonsocket, RI. October 23, 1923 to Josephat Lamothe and Eva Champagne Lamothe of St. Germaine and St Nazaire, Quebec, Canada.
Laurence was the fourth of six children and the first to be born in the United States after her parents immigrated and first settled in RI in 1922. The family soon moved to Nashua, NH to secure employment and settled in “French Hill” on the northeast side of Nashua. She was schooled at St Francis Xavier and was a communicant of St Francis Church on Chandler St. for many years.
She worked at Vogue Photography Studio in Nashua, for a time as a hand colorist of black and white photos. She also worked for the Army Ordnance in Nashua where she was a detonator inspector, reporting her weekly findings to the Boston Headquarters until WWII ended. It was there that she met her husband, George J. Pappademas, over a glass of milk and an oatmeal cookie.
After 3 years together they were married on June 8, 1947. George and “Larrie” (as she was affectionately known) started a family business, Cash & Carry Dry Cleaners and Pappademas Linen Rental. She worked there during the day while her children were in school and was home by 3:00pm to be the quintessential mom which was her most important job of all.
She embraced the Greek Orthodox religion of her husband with open arms and surpassed the wildest dreams of all her Greek friends and family members. Greek Easters were always the highlight of the year and each one a blessing to remember. She was an excellent cook, won several cooking competitions and it was always a pleasure to feast on her traditional and “creative” masterpieces.
Anyone that knew her will remember the beautiful table settings and meals served on so many holidays and special occasions. She loved to read and always said that it was the nuns at St. Francis School who told her she would never be lonely with a love for reading. She has literally read thousands of books in her lifetime.
She particularly loved multi-generational books and anything to do with England, Ireland, historical sagas and all the classics. In her younger years on Lincoln Avenue in Nashua, she loved gardening, crafting, furthering her French, studying Greek, taking classes at Riviere College and above all caring for her three children Jim, Cheryl and George. She and her husband George traveled the world, loved to dance and treasured family gatherings whenever possible.
She was an amazing seamstress, creating countless wedding gowns, evening gowns and prom gowns for family and friends throughout her active years. After closing the dry cleaning business in the early 70’s, her husband opened Grand Prix Real Estate in Nashua for the next 15 years, retiring in the mid 80’s. In 1988, she and her husband relocated to Venice, Florida.
Laurence enjoyed part-time work for the Nielsen Rating Company, learning computer entry skills and she also loved her home computer and all it had to offer. After her husband George passed away in 2000, she relocated to Amherst, Mass. in 2003 to be closer to east coast family.
While in Amherst she was an avid student at the 5 Colleges for Lifelong Learning studying a wide variety of topics such as Shakespeare, French literature, English literature and History . She loved the energy, the libraries and community events that this college town had to offer the senior community. She lived there for 8 years before moving to Hampton, NH.
Maintaining her French heritage was always so important to her. French being her first language, she continued to stay connected to her remaining family in Canada where she had spent so many summers as a child, as a young woman and as a mother. Every time she crossed the border she said, “This feels like home”.
Laurence was a woman of very strong faith. Her positive attitude could never be denied. She loved all her friends and family with all her heart.
She disliked gossip and always saw the best in everyone. Her laugh was infectious, unmistakable and her smile could light up a room. She loved unconditionally.
Larrie always lived in the present moment. She never dwelled on the past, lived for today each and every day. If you ever had the opportunity to sit and visit with her, you could always tell she loved life, family and friends.
Life in Drakeside Road here in Hampton brought her much peace and happiness. She made some wonderful friends at Appleton Oaks. She enjoyed daily visits to Meals on Wheels at the Methodist Church and made some wonderful friends there too.
After she started receiving the meals at home, these friends continued to stay connected and check in on her. In her years here in NH, she was ALWAYS thrilled when nieces and nephews wanted to come and visit her. She would say, “Really?
Can you believe that? They want to come visit an old lady like me? ” To which we always responded, “Mom, you’ve been an unbelievable aunt and friend to so many people!
Everyone loves you! ” To which she’d smile and say, “That’s just wonderful”. She treasured every friendship she ever made and could never understand how friendships could end over what often seemed to be a misunderstanding.
She loved each of her siblings to the fullest. She often told us stories of her brothers and sister and the wonderful childhood memories she held so dear to her heart. The fondness she had for each of her siblings was unique, immeasurable and remarkable.
She was an inspiration to everyone that knew her. Her positive attitude, unconditional love and her love of life’s little pleasures is a lesson for us all. We will all miss you Laurence, Larrie, Mom, Mem, Maude.
Never to be forgotten! Laurence is survived by her three children. James R Pappademas (Ellen) of Napa Valley, Ca.
, Cheryl P Berman (Stewart ) of Rye, NH and George E Pappademas of Portsmouth, NH. Five grandchildren, Alexander Pappademas (Jennifer), Elizabeth Pappademas, Sarah Kearns (Jesse), Jeremiah J Berman(Lisseth) and Christopher Pappademas, three great-grandchildren, Charlotte Pappademas, Jacob Kearns and Isla Kearns, and her dearest first cousin in Quebec, Jeanette LeClerc, and several nieces and nephews all of whom were very dedicated to visiting her throughout her years here in NH. Laurence was predeceased by her siblings and their spouses, Oscar (Stella), Edmond (Cecile), Gerard (Ernestine), Leo Paul Lamothe(Florette), Cecile Forcier (Ernest) and her niece Donna Lamothe.
A Celebration of Life and reception following will be held on Sunday June 2, 2019 at 1:00PM at the Trinity Episcopal Church and reception hall, 200 High St. Hampton, NH. Private burial will take place. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her loving memory to any of the following: Rockingham Nutrition Meals on Wheels, 106 North Road, Brentwood, NH 03833, Lane Memorial Library, 2 Academy Ave, Hampton, NH 03842, Newington Public School, 133 Nimble Hill Rd, Newington, NH 03801,or the Trinity Episcopal Church, 200 High St, Hampton, NH 03842.
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