Marcia Jean LaFountain of Duxbury, VT, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on April 4, 2013, at FletcherAllenHealth Care in Burlington, VT, after suffering a sudden, brief illness.
Marcie was a wonderful and caring daughter, a loving and devoted wife, a dear sister, a kind neighbor and a trusted, thoughtful friend.
Marcie was born to Bob and Barbara (Lengyel) LaFountain in Würtzburg, Germany, on October 17, 1957, while her parents were stationed there. The family moved to Orono, ME, after her dad completed his army enlistment, returning to Vermont when he completed his business degree. Marcie spent the rest of her childhood in Calais, VT.
After she graduated from Union 32 High School in East Montpelier, VT, Marcie headed west to Colorado State University but returned to Vermont to complete her associate’s degree in hematology.
Marcie met her future husband, Kurt Pettinga, on September 12, 1979. They would marry on that same date, 17 years later.
Kurt and Marcie spent the 1980s in Boston, where Marcie worked at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of Massachusetts Boston, while also studying at the Boston Architectural Center.
In 1991, Marcie and Kurt returned to Vermont and settled in Duxbury. A “lifelong learner” Marcie enrolled at the University of Vermont and in 1996 she completed her master’s degree in cellular and molecular biology.
For 17 years, Marcie worked at the Vermont Forensics Laboratory and in 2011 became the senior forensic chemist for the lab.
Marcie was deeply interested in the natural world, a true animal lover, an avid gardener and knitter. She was naturally creative and an adventurous and excellent cook. She enjoyed the ongoing project of renovating the old farmstead that was her home. From her girlhood and throughout her life, she was passionate about all things equestrian, and with each year’s first snowfall, she was eager to get to the mountain and onto her snowboard. She also loved to travel and made memorable trips with Kurt and friends to Africa, Europe, Central America and Iceland.
Marcie is survived by her husband, Kurt; her mother, Barbara of Calais, VT; her brother, Robert (Bob) LaFountain, III (partner Cassandra LaRae-Perez) of Montpelier, VT; her sister, Lisa LaFountain-Dearing (partner Brian Pusey) of West Point, UT; several beloved aunts, uncles and cousins, and many friends and colleagues. Marcie was predeceased by her maternal and paternal grandparents and her father.
Marcie will be remembered and missed by all who knew her for her kindness, open-mindedness, intelligence, wit, generosity, thoughtful correspondence and her ability to make things beautiful.
As Marcie wished, there will be no funeral service. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
Donations in Marcie’s memory may be made to the Addison County Humane Society, 236 Boardman Street, Middlebury, VT 05753; Central Vermont Humane Society, 1589 VT Route 14S, East Montpelier, VT 05651; or Rottie Empire Rescue, Saratoga Springs, NY (http://www.rottieempirerescue.com).
The family wishes to thank the staff of FletcherAllenHealth Care for the kindness, care, and respect provided to Marcie and her family.
Assisting the family is the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury. To send online condolences please visit us at www.perkinsparker.com and Facebook.
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