Obituary of Constance Bernadette LeVasseur

Columbia - Constance Bernadette (Picard) LeVasseur, age 80, of Columbia, South Carolina passed away peacefully on October 24, 2014. She was born February 25, 1934 in Lewiston, Maine to Arthur and Blanche (Labbe) Picard. Services will be Saturday, November 1, 2014 beginning with a Rosary at 1:30 p.m. and Mass at 2:00 p.m. at St. Michael's Catholic Church on Fort Jackson, Columbia, South Carolina. Burial will take place in July 2015. Constance married Eugene LeVasseur in Maine on May 19, 1956. They had five children. She spent her life serving others. Family meant everything to her. As an Army wife, she traveled where the military sent her husband from Kentucky to Alaska, Maryland to Germany and finally to retire in South Carolina. When they arrived in Columbia in 1974 she worked as a waitress at the Market Restaurant, Elite Epicurean, and Golden Corral. Summers in Maine, and Christmas celebrated at Thanksgiving or in July, were family traditions. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were her world. She was a member of the Ladies Sodality at Saint Michael's on Fort Jackson and a volunteer for any job that needed to get done. Connie will be remembered as a loving Mother by her sons, Richard and Donald of Columbia; and daughters DebraAnn (James) Buffalo of Bushnell, Illinois, Constance (Paul) VanSlambrouck of Birch Run, Michigan, and Shemaine (Michael) Thornton of Columbia. Matriarch, Mémère, friend and confidant to her grandchildren, Kristen (John Kitchener), Richard LeVasseur, Riki (Nicholas Taylor), Cortney (Joe Brazier), Serra (Dewayne Sizemore), Katharine (Brian Singleton), Valerie Buffalo and Samantha Kreps, Constance (Eric Braeutigam), Jessica (Sean Petty) and Nicole VanSlambrouck, Justin (Angie) and Matthew (Fujiko) Thornton, Alexander (Alicia) and Benjamin (Sabrina) Owens; Great-grandchildren, Shane, Londyn, John, Skylar, Emma, Kristian, Dakotah, Madilyn, Wyatt, Lindsey, Zachary, Cayden, Camren, Austin, Payton, Robert, Owen, Miyuki, Cayden, Nicholai, and Ares; sibling, Arthur (Marie) Picard; brother in laws, Jim (Barb) LeVasseur and Ron Laganiere; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Blanche; husband, Eugene, sisters, Doris Picard and Lorraine Laganiere. She will be missed by her family and friends. In lieu of flowers please make a contribution in her name to your favorite charity.