STATESVILLE, NC: Leanne Frances Lafreniere Harshbarger, 67, of Statesville, NC, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016 at her home. Born in Springfield, MA., Aug. 11, 1948, she was the daughter of the late Leon and Anna Lafreniere (Oleksak). Leanne graduated from St. Mary’s High School, and went to Westfield State University receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Education. Her primary field of work was in Information Technology working as a software programmer before retiring in 2005. Leanne was an avid animal lover, volunteering with the Humane Society of Iredell County in North Carolina, and also volunteered with the Statesville, NC local Senior Center. Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 26 years, Eric William Harshbarger; and two brothers, Loren Lafreniere and his wife, Sandra of Mooresville, NC and Leon Lafreniere Jr. and his wife Cheryl of Westfield, MA. Along with her two brothers, Leanne was predeceased by a nephew, Adam Lafreniere (2014) and leaves three nephews and two nieces; Aaron Lafreniere and Kimberly Lafreniere of Mooresville, NC, and Lisa Pac(Lafreniere) of Huntington, MA, Kevin Lafreniere of Russell, MA, and Brian Lafreniere from Westfield. Services honoring Leanne’s life will be conducted in Westfield, MA. A wake will be held at Firtion Adams Funeral home on Wednesday, January 27th from 5-8 PM, and a funeral service to be held on Thursday 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home and 10:30 am in St. Mary’s Church, followed with burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Leanne’s memory to the local animal shelters in the area; Feeding Hills – Feline Friends Cat Sanctuary, P.O. Box 174, Feeding Hills, MA, and in Springfield, the Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society, P.O. Box 6307, Springfield, MA, 01101. Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home of Statesville, NC and Firtion Adams Funeral Service of Westfield are honored to be serving the Harshbarger family.
