O'Neil Joseph LaPlante, Sr. Obituary (1915 - 2008)

Waterville O'Neil Joseph LaPlante, Sr. died Tues., Apr. 8, 2008 at MaineGeneral Medical Ctr. following a brief illness. He was born in Waterville May 20, 1915, the son of Joseph and Marancience Bolduc LaPlante. He was a first generation American who attended elementary school at St. Francis De Sales Catholic School in Waterville. He started delivering the newspaper, the Morning Sentinel when he was seven years old--delivering 200 papers a week. He left school in the eighth grade to support his family. He sawed wood all day after completing his paper route, working 12 hours per day and at 16 worked for a local contractor making 16 cents per hour. Following his father's footsteps, at the age of 18, O'Neil went to work for Hollingsworth & Whitney at their mill in Winslow, which eventually became Scott Paper Company. He worked at the mill for over forty years. He and his wife Yvette lived in Waterville where they enjoyed landscaping and growing vegetables in their garden. With a penchant for hard work, O'Neil took it upon himself to completely rehabilitate the lot next to his home which was left unattended for many years. Despite his physical limitations, he transformed the overgrown lot into what neighbors named ''Silvermount Park'', replete with beautiful trees and flowers. O'Neil was a deeply faithful man who attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church and served Mass from 1975 to 1981 with Fr. Willette at Mount St. Joseph Nursing Home. This humble man will be remembered for his strong faith in God, a belief in hard work, and his ability to overcome adversity. During his retirement years, he spent a great deal of time volunteering at Brookside Elementary School in Waterville. In April of 2007 O'Neil was honored during the ''Remember Me'' ceremony held in the Hall of Flags at the State House. This ceremony was sponsored by the Maine Health Care Assoc. and saluting the accomplishments of long term care residents living in the State of Maine. Individuals were chosen for making a difference for their families, communities, state, and country. O'Neil was a life long member of the American Legion in Waterville. He was predeceased by his daughter Nora Jean LaPlante; sisters Jeannette Leadbetter, Yvonne Laprice, Louise St. Peter and brothers Lionel LaPlante, Henry ''Rip'' LaPlante, Arthur LaPlante, Wilfred LaPlante and nephew Gordan Leadbetter, Jr. O'Neil is survived by his wife of 63 years Yvette Maheu LaPlante; son, O'Neil LaPlante, Jr. and his fianc Patricia Watts of Richmond; daughter, Linda and her husband James Fossa, Jr. of Waterville; sisters, Marie Dumont of Waterville, and Juliette Libby of Chulavista, CA. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Joseph LaPlante of Topsham, Matthew McChesney and his wife Kelly of Katy, TX, Robert LaPlante of Farmingdale, Carole Anne Britt of West Gardiner, James Mario Fossa, III and Danielle Fossa of Waterville; great-granddaughter, Elizabeth McChesney of Katy, TX and by many nieces and nephews. The family of O'Neil LaPlante would like to thank Lakewood manor Nursing Home for their loving care that was extended to him while a resident at their nursing home. In addition, the family of Mr. LaPlante would like to extend their appreciation to Dr. Todd Miller who took care of O'Neil during his stay in the hospital. They would also like to thank the fourth floor medical staff of MaineGeneral Medical Center. There will be no visiting hours. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Mon., Apr 14 at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 112 Silver St., Waterville. The Burial will take place immediately following the Mass. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Lakewood Manor Nursing Home, Moonlight Bay Unit, % Vicki Dyer, RN, 220 Kennedy Memorial Drive, Waterville, ME 04901. Arrangements are with the Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm St., Waterville.