Obituary for Alice Boyce LaPoint Smith
On Saturday, April 16th, 2022, Alice Boyce LaPoint Smith, of Framingham, MA (formerly of Tolland and Ellington, CT), loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away at age 93, surrounded by her loving family.
Alice was born in Worcester, MA in 1928 to Charles A. and Hannah A. Boyce.
Alice graduated from Regis College in Weston, MA in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree. She later went on to achieve a Master of Science degree from Eastern CT State University, while working full time as a science teacher for the Tolland Public School system and raising her five children.
Alice married William M. LaPoint in 1953, and together they raised five children, first in Fitchburg, MA, then in Tolland, CT. Alice later married her childhood sweetheart, Richard (“Dick”) Lawless Smith, of
Leominster, MA, and they adored each other for 22 years until his death in 2006.
Alice, also known as “Dabi” “Dabs” or “Grammy” to her grandchildren and countless others, made friends everywhere with her radiant smile, and warm, giving nature. She loved to laugh, and welcomed everyone into her life. "
Alice and her husband were dedicated longtime parishioners of Saint Matthew Parish in Tolland, where she served both as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister for many decades.
Alice was passionate about many things—but her family was always her number one. She was a voracious lover of learning, continuing her lifelong zeal for science long after retiring from teaching. Her favorite topics to discuss were the latest scientific discovery, a self improvement book she recently read or the importance of health and wellness habits. Even her Alzheimer’s Disease progressed, she never lost her warmth, radiant smile and deep love for her family.
She also loved being outdoors, keeping active with skiing, running and Jazzercise classes in her younger years, and long walks, swimming and sitting in the sun in her later years. She and her husband Dick had many happy summers at their beloved cottage “Spec” on Spectacle Pond in Lancaster, MA.
Alice initiated our annual family tradition of a Mother’s Day Hike, which continues today with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren." In addition, Alice was an accomplished seamstress and made countless outfits for herself and her family, including many clothes for her grandchildren, baptismal gowns, first communion dresses, prom dresses and even a wedding gown for her daughter, Kathleen. She made her own grandmother-of-the-bride suit, which she will be interred wearing.
She leaves a sister, Maryann Boyce Kilcoyne, of Framingham, MA; three daughters, Ann LaPoint-Mills and her husband James, of Ellington; Mary Alice LaPoint, of Kittery Point, ME; and Kathleen LaPoint Robinson, of North Windham, CT; and two sons, William M. LaPoint and his wife, Margot, of Marlborough, CT and Robert C. LaPoint and his wife, Erin, of Naperville, IL.
Alice also leaves 11 beloved grandchildren, Lyndsay Mills McNiff and her husband Daniel, of Framingham, MA; Joseph Mills, of San Francisco, CA; Taylor Mills Torres and he husband Marcus, of Austin, TX; Anna O’Neil and her husband Shaun, of, Washington, DC; Claire O’Neil, of Los Angeles, CA; Molly LaPoint and Rebecca LaPoint, both of Marlborough, CT; Sophia LaPoint of Hargeisa, Somaliland; Chaz LaPoint, of Columbia, Missouri; Paris LaPoint, of Iowa City, IA; and Brooks Robinson of Willimantic, CT; and three precious great-grandchildren, Miles, Graham and Liam McNiff of Framingham, MA; and many nieces and nephews that she loved dearly.
Alice was predeceased by her parents, Charles and Hannah, and her brothers, Charles Jr., Ralph, and Donald.
Relatives and friends are welcome to join the family from 4 to 7 PM on Friday, April 22, 2022 at the Tolland Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Merrow Rd. (Rte. 195) Tolland, CT 06084. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, April 23, 2022 at St. Matthew Church, 111 Tolland Green, Tolland, CT. (Please meet at church.) Burial will be private at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA)
Alice was born in Worcester, MA in 1928 to Charles A. and Hannah A. Boyce.
Alice graduated from Regis College in Weston, MA in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree. She later went on to achieve a Master of Science degree from Eastern CT State University, while working full time as a science teacher for the Tolland Public School system and raising her five children.
Alice married William M. LaPoint in 1953, and together they raised five children, first in Fitchburg, MA, then in Tolland, CT. Alice later married her childhood sweetheart, Richard (“Dick”) Lawless Smith, of
Leominster, MA, and they adored each other for 22 years until his death in 2006.
Alice, also known as “Dabi” “Dabs” or “Grammy” to her grandchildren and countless others, made friends everywhere with her radiant smile, and warm, giving nature. She loved to laugh, and welcomed everyone into her life. "
Alice and her husband were dedicated longtime parishioners of Saint Matthew Parish in Tolland, where she served both as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister for many decades.
Alice was passionate about many things—but her family was always her number one. She was a voracious lover of learning, continuing her lifelong zeal for science long after retiring from teaching. Her favorite topics to discuss were the latest scientific discovery, a self improvement book she recently read or the importance of health and wellness habits. Even her Alzheimer’s Disease progressed, she never lost her warmth, radiant smile and deep love for her family.
She also loved being outdoors, keeping active with skiing, running and Jazzercise classes in her younger years, and long walks, swimming and sitting in the sun in her later years. She and her husband Dick had many happy summers at their beloved cottage “Spec” on Spectacle Pond in Lancaster, MA.
Alice initiated our annual family tradition of a Mother’s Day Hike, which continues today with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren." In addition, Alice was an accomplished seamstress and made countless outfits for herself and her family, including many clothes for her grandchildren, baptismal gowns, first communion dresses, prom dresses and even a wedding gown for her daughter, Kathleen. She made her own grandmother-of-the-bride suit, which she will be interred wearing.
She leaves a sister, Maryann Boyce Kilcoyne, of Framingham, MA; three daughters, Ann LaPoint-Mills and her husband James, of Ellington; Mary Alice LaPoint, of Kittery Point, ME; and Kathleen LaPoint Robinson, of North Windham, CT; and two sons, William M. LaPoint and his wife, Margot, of Marlborough, CT and Robert C. LaPoint and his wife, Erin, of Naperville, IL.
Alice also leaves 11 beloved grandchildren, Lyndsay Mills McNiff and her husband Daniel, of Framingham, MA; Joseph Mills, of San Francisco, CA; Taylor Mills Torres and he husband Marcus, of Austin, TX; Anna O’Neil and her husband Shaun, of, Washington, DC; Claire O’Neil, of Los Angeles, CA; Molly LaPoint and Rebecca LaPoint, both of Marlborough, CT; Sophia LaPoint of Hargeisa, Somaliland; Chaz LaPoint, of Columbia, Missouri; Paris LaPoint, of Iowa City, IA; and Brooks Robinson of Willimantic, CT; and three precious great-grandchildren, Miles, Graham and Liam McNiff of Framingham, MA; and many nieces and nephews that she loved dearly.
Alice was predeceased by her parents, Charles and Hannah, and her brothers, Charles Jr., Ralph, and Donald.
Relatives and friends are welcome to join the family from 4 to 7 PM on Friday, April 22, 2022 at the Tolland Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Merrow Rd. (Rte. 195) Tolland, CT 06084. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, April 23, 2022 at St. Matthew Church, 111 Tolland Green, Tolland, CT. (Please meet at church.) Burial will be private at the convenience of the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: The Alzheimer's Foundation of America (AFA)