Earlene Bessie Lavanway

06/19/2006

Earlene Bessie Lavanway, 96, a longtime resident of Monroe, died Monday at North Adams Commons. Born in South Readsboro, Vt. on Feb. 23, 1910, daughter of Earl Arthur and Bessie May Tower Bowen, she attended school in South Readsboro, Vt. Mrs. Lavanway was a homemaker. She was a charter member of the South Readsboro Community Club, serving as its president from 1966 to 1990. She also was a member of the Tower Family Genealogical Society and the Monroe Historical Society. In her younger years, she was involved in the 4-H and Home Demonstration organizations. She grew up at the Alvin Tower Homestead in Monroe and resided there with her husband, Harold Ervin Lavanway, whom she married Oct. 19, 1929, in Hoosick Falls, N.Y. In 1997, they moved to St. Joseph Court in North Adams, where they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. He died on July 19, 2000. Mrs. Lavanway leaves three daughters, Myrna Harvey of Clarksburg, Alta Wood of Sun City West, Ariz., and Sandra Goodermote of Monroe; a son, Harold Bowen Lavanway of Clarksburg; 12 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren, and a great-great-grandchild. A daughter, Bernice Polucci, died on Oct. 3, 2003. FUNERAL NOTICE -- Funeral services for Earlene Lavanway, who died Monday, June 19, 2006, will take place Thursday, June 22, at 1 p.m. at FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS, CENTRAL CHAPELS with the Rev. John Brigham, pastor of First Baptist Church of Readsboro, Vt., officiating. Burial will follow in Monroe Cemetery. Calling hours at the funeral home are Wednesday, June 21, from 4 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, any donations in her memory are suggested for the First Baptist Church of Readsboro, Vt.; the South Readsboro Community Club or the Monroe Historical Society through the funeral home, 74 Marshall Street, North Adams. She also leaves three sons-in-law, Donald, Donald, and Norman; a daughter-in-law, Linda; and 12 grandchildren, Gregory Polucci, Jeffrey Polucci, Ashley Polucci, Donna Beebe, Kathi Lampron, Beverly Chipman, Dennis Wood, Gary Wood, Matthew Goodermote, Mearlene Filkins, Madelyn Dykes and Brian Lavanway, and several nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews and cousins. Mrs. Lavanway was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother.

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