Frances LAVOIE

FRANCES (HILDA) LaVOIE Passed away at the age of 88 on March 7, 2005 of natural causes. Her many accomplishments include executive secretary, world traveler, aviator, teacher and most of all mot her. She had the wonderful ability of traveling anywhere in the world, and becoming instant friends with the people she met. Born in Virginia, and raised in Montana, she and her husband moved to Southern California shortly before WWII. While he secured a job as a set maker with the movie industry, she began her career as a secretary. She remarried in 1954, and she, her new husband and children moved to New Zealand for several years. Upon their return they settled in Denver, Colorado. She returned to So uthern California in 1959, and purchased a home in Van Nuys. She became an executive secretary at Northrop and remained in that position until her retirement in 1982. In addition to her position at Northrop, she made time to teach shorthand classes at Valley College. Upon retiring, she took up flying, and this coupled with travel to Europe, China and much of the United States, allowed her to achieve goals she had often dreamed. Her life was marked by a sense of adventure, strength, dignity and cou rage. These qualities she always tried to pass down to her children by example. An Inurnment service will be held at San Fernando Mission Cemetery on Saturday, April 9, 2005, 1:30 p.m. She is survived by her two children, Dale Cutler and Theresa LaVoie; granddaughter, Maija; and her cat, Curie. She will be missed. Published in the Los Angeles Daily News on 4/7/2005.