Obituary of CMSgt (ret.) Joseph LaFrance

Joseph Raymond “Joe” LaFrance, 89, passed away on 13 May, 2021 at Holmes Regional Medical Center, Melbourne, Florida.

 

He was born on 19 August 1931 in Lewiston, Maine, to Albertine LaFrance and raised by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest LaFrance.  He and Del, his wife of 68 years, moved to Satellite Beach in 1976.

 

Joe enlisted in the Air Force in 1951, and served in numerous locations around the world, including a tour in Viet Nam in 1968-69.  He rose to the top enlisted rank of Chief Master Sergeant before retiring in 1980 at Patrick AFB, FL.

 

After retirement, Joe continued to serve for 13 years as the Deputy Chief of Services at Patrick AFB in a civilian capacity, during which he assisted NASA in recovery and dignified transfer efforts of the Space Shuttle Challenger astronauts.  He was a long-time member of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Indialantic, FL, and served in various church ministries.

 

A loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and soon-to-be great grandfather, Joe’s family includes his wife Del of Satellite Beach; daughter Janice and her husband Michael of Satellite Beach FL; son Kurt and his wife Sandrah of Belleville IL; son Kevin and his wife Kim of San Antonio TX; son Keith and his wife Alice of Cincinnati OH; daughter Melissa and her husband Charles of Tampa FL; sixteen grandchildren, and one expected great grandchild.

 

The family will receive friends at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, 3050 North Highway A1A, Indialantic, FL on 20 May from 10:00-11:00A.M. followed by a funeral Mass at 11:00A.M. with Rev. Scott Circe officiating.  Private viewing for immediate family will be at Ammen Family Cremation and Funeral Care on 19 May.  Interment will be at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery on 20 May.

 

Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Society of Saint Vincent DePaul c/o Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church, 3050 N. Highway A1A, Indialantic, FL 32903, or on-line to The American Heart Association

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