Laurel Mae Lalonde

Laurel Mae (Snyder) Lalonde, age 90, of Horseheads, NY went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, November 26, 2016.She passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family. Laurel was born in Elmira, NY on October 3, 1926, daughter of the late Percy & Gertrude Snyder. She was a graduate of Southside High School and Fredonia State Teacher’s College in 1948 where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Music and Elementary Education.Laurel began her teaching career at Alexandria Elementary School in Ticonderoga, NY, where she would meet and fall in love with fellow teacher and future husband Charles (Chuck) Lalonde.They would go on to enjoy 56 years of marriage until Chuck’s passing on March 7, 2008. Over her career, Laurel taught both second grade and Kindergarten; most recently a Kindergarten teacher for many years, at Coldbrook Elementary School in Elmira, NY.Kindergarten was her favorite grade level and she especially enjoyed capturing the youthful spirits of her treasured students and overcoming the challenges of these beginning learners by sharing her gift of music.She had a beautiful singing voice and was a proficient piano player; sharing her love of music with all who were blessed to be a part of her life.She passed on her passion for music to her daughter, grandchildren and great grandchildren who she inspired to sing, play the piano, violin and many other musical instruments. Laurel, along with her husband, Chuck, were long time members for over 50 years of Saint Mary Our Mother Church in Horseheads, NY. Through her church Laurel shared her legacy of faith and witnessed to others in many ways including playing the piano at Elcor and other area nursing homes.She sang in the Resurrection Choir and Saint Mary Our Mother Folk Group.Very important to her for over two decades were her weekly meetings with the Marian Cenacle Prayer Group.She so valued her time with this close nit group, including Celine and Peg, cherished friends for more than 20 years. Laurel was a woman of very strong faith and all who knew her could not doubt her love and devotion to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was a firm believer in the power of prayer, praying the Rosary regularly for World Peace, friends and loved ones, and even perfect strangers; but most specifically daily for each and every one of her many grandchildren and great grandchildren.Her philosophy in life was to see only the very best in everyone, as God does, in their purest most perfect forms and focus on the positive in all of us.A message she often shared with others and words she lived by were, “In everything, do what is right and bring honor and glory to our Savior.”Her most fervent hope was that her loved ones would find this Faith and have their own close relationships with God. Laurel was predeceased by her devoted husband of 56 years, Charles H. Lalonde; parents, Percy and Gertrude Snyder; brother, King Snyder;brother-in-law, Roger Carlson and sister-in-law, Mae (Lalonde) Fitzgerald. Laurel is survived by her loving daughter, Sandra (Lalonde) Jones and son-in-law, Jonathan Jones; youngest sister, Marilyn (Snyder) Carlson and oldest brother, Warren Snyder; grandchildren, Autumn (Robert) Hill, Misty (Starski) Fields, Brooke Bachert (Robert Wainwright), Sheena (Richard) Townson, Nathan Jones (Briana Davis) and Kaitlynn (Mark) Kryman; great-grandchildren, Candis-Marie, Logan, Kalina, Colton, Robert, Dawson, Savannah, Sharod, Starsha, Starski Elijah, Brent, Brendan, Bryce, Isabella, Bradyn, Emilyn, Landyn, Sandrilyn, Gwendilyn and Pehtyn; great-great-grandchild, Kevian-Lafayette; and numerous nieces, nephews, friends & acquaintances. To celebrate the life of Laurel Lalonde friends and family may call at the Olthof Funeral Home, Inc., 1050 Pennsylvania Avenue, Elmira, NY on Sunday, December 4, 2016 from 4 PM to 6 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary Our Mother Church, 816 West Broad Street, Horseheads, NY on Monday, December 5, 2016 at 10 AM with burial to follow in the St. Mary Our Mother Cemetery, Horseheads, NY. Laurel’s guest book may be signed at www.olthof.com.