Joseph Albert LaBonte, of Andover, passed peacefully into heaven while sleeping on November 12, 2013, at the age of 82. Joe was born to Joseph and Ida LaBonte in Penacook, on August 23, 1931, and he was their only child.
Joe met and married the love of his life, Helen A. Martin, on May 15, 1950, and they spent more than 62 happy years together. Their early married years were spent on Merrimack Street in Penacook. During this time, Joe worked for Martin’s Farm and at Brezner Tannery.
In 1963, Joe moved his family north to Woodsville to manage Butson’s Market (formerly People’s Market) for his brother-in-law, Link Butson. Joe spent 15 years in Woodsville with Helen raising their three boys before moving the family back to Penacook to care for his ailing mother.
He managed Mr. Grocer’s for many years before the sale of the store and then spent the next several years working for Allied Leather. After the tannery closing and before his retirement, Joe became head of maintenance at Oak Bridge Condominiums on Fisherville Road.
Joe and Helen retired to Melbourne Beach, Florida in 1994 and spent 14 years enjoying life and making lots of friends in the area. To all who knew him, Joe was the “go to guy” if you needed something fixed. Pa was never one to rest on his laurels! While “retired,” he worked in customer relations at Publix Super Market and also operated a maintenance business at his retirement park in Melbourne Beach. In 2008, Joe and Helen came home to New Hampshire to be close to family.
Joe was predeceased by his life’s partner and wife Helen; his parents, Joseph and Ida; sisters-in-law, Velma, Marie, Verna, and Phyllis; and brothers-in-law, Lloyd, Louis, and Arnold; and several aunts and uncles.
Joe is survived by his aunt, Dot Karwocki, of Penacook; brother-in-law, Harold Martin, of Penacook; and his sister-in-law, Jean Butson of Woodsville; sons, Harold LaBonte of San Clemente, California, Dennis LaBonte and his wife Joannie of Lakeland, Florida, and Daniel LaBonte and his wife Kathy of Andover. Joe also leaves behind his seven grandchildren, Shirley Ann LaBonte, Alexis Michael, Bobbi-Jo Michael, Chris LaBonte, Dennis LaBonte Jr., Andrew LaBonte, and Ryan LaBonte; as well as 13 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Calling hours were held on November 27 at the Wendell J. Butt funeral home in Penacook. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Joe’s name to the Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth (CHaD), One Medical Center Drive, Lebanon 03756.