June 15, 2008  

CARTHAGE, N.Y.  —  Peter J. LaVancha, 78, formerly of 40 N. Broad Street, Apt. 109, died Friday evening at Samaritan Medical Center, Watertown. He had been a patient at Mercy Hospital of Watertown for the last two months. 

Born Dec. 22, 1929, in Harrisville, the son of Henry and Blanche Marcel LaVancha, he attended Harrisville Schools. 

He worked for the Local 545, as an operating engineer on various projects in several counties. He retired in 1988. 

A marriage to Geraldine Adner ended in divorce. He married Janet Burto in 1993 in Carthage. 

He enjoyed bingo, camping, fishing, country music, woodworking. He was also well known for his excellent hunting skills. 

Mr. LaVancha was a member of the Black River Valley Fiddlers.

Surviving are his wife and children; a daughter and her husband, Diane and Ross Bossuot, Carthage; a son, Henry LaVancha, Constableville; two step-children; Heidi Russell, Carthage; Scott Rahr, South Carolina; three brothers, Everett LaVancha; Dwayne LaVancha; and Harvey LaVancha; a sister, Dora Garrow; 5 grandchildren; 4 step-grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.

A daughter Marsha Rose, five brothers, Bill, Albert, Frederick, Dennis, and William LaVancha, and seven sisters, Lavisa R. Cleveland, Idabelle LaVancha, Isabelle VanDeWalker, Rose Metcalf, Irma Luther, Betty Susice, and Susan Brown, all died before him.

A memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, June 19, in the Bossuot-Lundy Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will immediately follow the memorial service in the Harrisville Cemetery. 

Donations in his memory can be made to the Mercy Center for Health Services, 218 Stone St., Dialysis Unit, Watertown, NY 13601.

Information provided by Bossuot-Lundy Funeral Home, Inc., and Newzjunky.com, Watertown, N.Y.