Deena (Allard) Laviolette, 51, passed away at Mercy Medical Center after a long battle with Leiomyosarcoma (a rare aggressive cancer) surrounded by the love of her family. She was the daughter of Armand “Bruce” Allard and the late Mary (Palange) Allard. Deena was born in Springfield and grew up in West Springfield and graduated from West Springfield High School in 1982 and attended Holyoke Community College. She also spent part of her life living in Agawam and has resided in Westfield over the last 17 years. Over the years, Deena has held many different jobs, but the most recent were as an Administrative Assistant at International Masonry Institute (IMI) for 12 years and an Executive Assistant at Six Flags New England for 2 years. Deena was a past volunteer for Southampton Road Elementary School where she was co-President of the PTO for two years. She most enjoyed spending time with her husband Rene (her “rock”) and her children. She was a devoted wife of Rene Laviolette of Westfield and leaves two children: Kaylee Largay and Brandon Laviolette, both from Westfield. She was predeceased by her brother Kenneth “Kenny” Allard. She leaves an uncle and aunt, many cousins and her former husband Ken Largay and his wife Gladys. All of her family and friends have been a tremendous support especially through her journey through this disease since July of 2012. There will be a 10AM Liturgy of Christian Burial, Saturday, at Blessed Sacrament Church, 127 Holyoke Rd., Westfield. Burial in St. Thomas Cemetery will follow. Calling hours are Friday 4-7PM at the TOOMEY-O’BRIEN Funeral Home, 1043 Westfield St., W. Spfld. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made in memory of Deena Laviolette to either Cancer House of Hope, 1999 Westfield Street, West Springfield, MA 01085 or to support cancer research and patient care at: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Leiomyosarcoma, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445.For more information please visit www.toomeyobrien.com.
