BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. — Lucille Alberta Laferriere McCaffrey, 99, died Nov. 10, 2018 at Genesis Springfield Health and Rehabilitation Center in Springfield, Vermont. She was born April 22, 1919 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont, the daughter of the late Joseph and Marie (Thibault) Laferriere. She grew up in a large, energetic, hardworking, fun-loving family of 15 children. In 1940 she and Martin McCaffrey were married in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. They lived and raised their family in Bellows Falls, Vermont. Lucille received her early schooling in St. Johnsbury, Vermont and graduated from hair dressing school when she was 50. Besides working as a hairdresser, she also worked in the kitchen at McGirr Nursing Home for many years. But her favorite job was being a mother and homemaker and she excelled at making nutritious meals, crocheting, knitting, sewing many of her children’s clothes while providing plenty of fun and discipline. Music held a special place in her life, especially the swing and big band eras. She sang in the St. Charles choir for many years and regaled her nursing home friends with her singing. Her children remember her singing along with the radio, especially with Arthur Godfrey and Frank Sinatra. And she took great pleasure in going to the local coffee shop with her friends every morning.
She was a long-time member of the St. Charles Catholic Daughters of America and served as grand regent and a junior Catholic Daughter leader. She was also a Cub Scout den leader and a member of Bellows Falls Post 37 American Legion Auxiliary.
She is survived by her four children: Joanne and her husband Paul Savoie of Bowdoinham, Maine, Janet and her husband Richard Forbush of Bellows Falls, Vermont, James McCaffrey of Saxtons River, Vermont, and John McCaffrey and his partner Lora Bothwell of Monkton, Vermont; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Martin, 14 siblings, two grandchildren, Allison Forbush and Karen McCaffrey and a great grandchild, Garrett Dunlap.
A funeral mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018 at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls, with burial to follow in the St. Charles Cemetery in Westminster, Vermont. Per Lucille’s wishes, there will be no calling hours.
Donations may be made to BAYADA Hospice, 1222 Putney Rd #203, Brattleboro, VT 05301.
A special thank you to the dedicated people who gave our mother attentive care over the years, the staffs of Genesis Springfield Health and Rehabilitation Center and the former McGirr Nursing Home, and Bayada Hospice.
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