Dorothy K. Lavallee, 86, passed away peacefully on July 28, 2026, at McClure Miller Respite House. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 60 years, Richard B. Lavallee.
“Dottie” was born in Concord, N.H., in April 1940 to Harold and Phyllis (Milbury) Dyment. She recalled fond memories of playing at her grandparents’ farm, enjoying the farm animals, swimming in the river and skating on the pond. She graduated from Concord High School in 1958, where she was active in many sports and the Civil Air Patrol — she loved to fly. She moved to Vermont to pursue her lifelong career in nursing at Mary Fletcher School of Nursing. This is where she met her future husband, “Dick,” on a blind date.
After marrying in 1963, they settled into the first of many homes Dick built in Richmond, Vt. They had two daughters, Carole and Denise. She took time off from nursing to raise the girls until they were in kindergarten; she worked flexible shifts at the Truex Nursing Home in Richmond. As her girls got older, she went back to her nursing career at what is now the University of Vermont Medical Center, where she enjoyed taking care of the patients and working with the “gals” and doctors in the OR. After a 40-year career, she retired and worked per diem at Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans.
During their 60-year marriage, Dottie and Dick built their last home in Grand Isle. They would find themselves moving to several more houses in Vermont while spending time in Florida during the winters. Mom found great joy gardening in her many rock and perennial gardens. She could be found baking, sewing, knitting, crocheting and playing games. Her love for nature, especially birds and the clouds in the sky, stayed with her until the end. Mom’s infectious laugh, kind demeanor and warm smile helped build many long-lasting friendships throughout the years. Her true nature was always caring for others and to “just go with the flow.”
Shortly after Dick passed in 2024, Dottie moved to South Hero with her daughter Carole. There she gained new friendships. She found enjoyment from her kitty companion, Briar; playing dominos and cards on the back deck; listening to music; and going for an occasional dip in the pool. She attended Care Partners in St. Albans, where she loved the staff. CIDER provided the rides, and she shared a very special bond with her driver David. Not a day went by when she didn’t have a smile on her face.
She was eventually moved to McClure Miller Respite House, where the amazing, kind and loving staff and volunteers gave her laughs and comfort during her last weeks. We’re sure she made others laugh as well. We will be forever grateful for their care of our mom.
Survivors include her daughter Carole Lavallee of South Hero and her two sons, Richard and Nathaniel; daughter Denise Ford of St. Albans and her two sons, Ethan and Jack; stepdaughter Lisa Pecsok of Swanton and her son, JJ; and stepdaughter Laura Lavallee of San Jose, Calif., and her son, Matthew. She is also survived by four great-grandchildren, Sadie, Kaylee, Izabella and Kayden Lavallee, who were the light of her life. She is also survived by her sisters, Doreen and husband Charles Banfill and Daphne and husband Arthur Dubois; nieces, Christine, Michelle, Deanna and Suzanne; as well as many other nieces and nephews.
We would like to give a special thank-you to the people who worked for the following service providers that treated her kindly and with great care: CIDER, Meals on Wheels, Care Partners, Agewell, the Memory Clinic, Bayada, Cobblestone PT, Northwestern Rehab, UVM Medical Center and McClure Miller Respite House.
Our mom will be missed and always loved, but we will hold on to the memories and the laughter that she brought to our lives.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, 11 a.m., at Holy Angels Catholic Church, 246 Lake St., St. Albans. A celebration of life will follow.
There will be a private gravesite burial for Dorothy at a later date.
Dottie’s family asks that, in her memory, donations be made to CIDER, PO Box 13, South Hero, VT 05486 (cidervt.org) or to McClure Miller Respite House, 1110 Prim Rd., Colchester, VT 05446 (uvmhealth.org/locations/mcclure-miller-respite-house-uvm-health-home-health-hospice).
Honored to be serving the family of Dorothy Lavallee is Rett Heald of the Heald Funeral Home, where messages of condolence are welcome at healdfuneralhome.com.
This article appears in August 12 • 2026.