BRATTLEBORO- Mary Melissa (Young) Lamoureux died unexpectedly due to an accident while on vacation in New Brunswick, Canada. Mrs. Lamoureux was born on November 14, 1936 in North Hollywood, CA, when, she liked to point out, “Hollywood still had its glamour.” During her teens she was an usher in a movie theater, and she enjoyed recounting memories of Hollywood premieres. She had encyclopedic recall of classic films that would rival the host of AMC.

At 16, Mrs. Lamoureux met her future husband, Army private George-Henri Lamoureux, when he climbed the fence of his military base and crashed a party at her best friend Gloria’s home to meet her. She later defied her father’s order and left college at 19 to marry George. They were married for two months shy of 50 years, until his death in 2006. They loved the ocean and spent many happy hours on boats and ferries. For her 75th birthday her children gave her a gift she had always wanted, a cruise. The last day of her life was one of her best: she was on her first cruise, accompanied by her granddaughter Rose, on a beautiful sunny day off the coast of Canada. It gives her family deep comfort that she was experiencing great happiness with one of her beloved grandchildren on her final day.

Mr. and Mrs. Lamoureux loved many children during their lifetime, their own, their grandchildren, and others whom Mrs. Lamoureux looked after in their home in Wilmington for more than 20 years. Later, Mrs. Lamoureux worked at Sams Department Store and RSVP in Brattleboro, and made many friends at both places.

Mrs. Lamoureux will be remembered for her kind nature, her genuine love and care for children, and her willingness to help anyone in need. Following the death of her husband, she became resiliently independent, and while she missed George she continued to live life well. As a mother, she was the epitome of unconditional love and generosity, for which her children and grandchildren will be ever grateful.

Mrs. Lamoureux leaves three children: Susan Gloria (Lamoureux) Parris, of Brattleboro, John-Paul Lamoureux and daughter-in-law Lisa, of Holliston, MA, and Andrew Lamoureux, of Brattleboro; and four grandchildren Casey Parris, of Brattleboro, Rose Lamoureux, of Wilmington, and Haley and Alex Lamoureux, of Holliston, MA. She remained close to her former daughter-in-law, Carolyn Hadden, of Wilmington, and former son-in-law, Scott Parris, of Cottonwood, AZ. She also leaves her dear friend of 64 years, Gloria Sens of Platteville, WI, many members of George’s family in Sturbridge, MA, and vicinity, and her aunt Dorothy, of Piedmont, CA. Mrs. Lamoureux had many friends in Wilmington and Brattleboro, and her family is thankful for the love and friendship they gave to her, particularly following the death of her husband. She was predeceased by a brother, Donald Young.

A memorial service will be held for Mrs. Lamoureux at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 96 East Main Street, Wilmington, on Saturday, July 7, at 11 am. A reception will immediately follow the service at the Wilmington Baptist Church. Mrs. Lamoureux will be interred next to George in the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Randolph Center at a later date.

To honor Mrs. Lamoureux’s love of children, the family requests that donations in lieu of flowers be made to the Windham Child Care Association, c/o Covey & Allen Funeral Home, PO Box 215, Wilmington, VT 05363. To send personal email condolences to the family visit www.sheafuneralhomes.com.