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The family of William Allen Lamoreaux uploaded a photo
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
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larry and cindy young posted a condolence
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
vert sorry steve i do remember ur parents for " letting" us use ur house for the bring your own streak parties. hope to see u again. take care
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Steve Lamoreaux posted a condolence
Monday, October 24, 2016
I think Dad was a pretty typical guy for his generation. Born and raised through the Great Depression. He missed participating in the Korean War, disqualified by his flat feet. And like so many of his time, he valued his family above all; made the most of what he had and wasted nothing. He built his house with the help of family and, for over 25 years, cleared his property by hand. He had a gift for working with wood and created amazingly beautiful cabinetry, exacting antique reproductions and later, prize-winning carvings.
As children, we were instilled with the importance of doing well in school, playing a musical instrument, and trying our best at our endeavors. He taught us how to use tools properly and safely. And to respect the forces of nature – one time driving us around the flooded Ramapo and Passaic River valleys to show us what the power of unbounded water can do.
We felt our parents were over-protective -- shielding us from “the unknown”, because the unknown was to be feared. Beginning as teenagers, we didn’t leave the house without Dad charging us with, “Be careful.” At the same time, our home was always open and welcoming to our friends. So much so, that two of my close friends lived in our home for awhile after high school, because their own families had moved away.
Dad took life seriously, but also had a healthy sense of humor. I cannot recall any time when he laughed harder, to the point of tears, than when he and his brother would recount tales of their boyhood years to one another. When we were in our teens, there were certain accounts we called “Wild Bill Stories,” because they seemed so out-of-character from the mostly-serious man we knew. One example I can recall was when, while working as a locksmith, he responded to a call from the young, trophy-wife of a local doctor to open a locked fur-coat closet. The pretty woman met my father at the front door and led him to this locked bedroom closet. Dad couldn’t help but notice the trapeze hanging over the bed and, feigning innocence, asked her, “Are you in the circus?”
As kids, we spent summer vacation days playing in the water at local lake clubs. Dad was one of the most powerful swimmers I have ever seen. He could propel himself backwards in a seated position, across a lake, while holding towels in both hands, high and dry, above his head. Or swim under water for so long as to cause concern for anyone watching.
Since Dad was an early American history buff – pre-Revolution to the Civil War -- our annual, one-week vacations were always focused on a car trip to some location or museum that had significance to that period. We did not fully appreciate it as youngsters, but in later years, social studies classes in high school and college were more ‘alive’ to us than many of our classmates.
When we were young, I can recall my mother often expressing her frustration about not having any friends. She would say that Dad was a stick in the mud, a curmudgeon. Many years later, at the celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary, I walked into the event hall and was stunned to see dozens of unfamiliar faces. Then it dawned on me, the problem was not my father, the problem must have been us kids, for as soon as we got the heck out of the house, they had friends coming out of the woodwork.
Dad wanted daughters, so of course, he got sons. I guess you could say that we did our best to backfill his dream, because over the last 30 years, we gave him a total of five daughters-in-law—as well as four beautiful granddaughters and three handsome grandsons.
His grandchildren offered their own special memories: Nicole’s favorite memory was going through the garden with him, picking green beans and mint. She and Alex would play in the cellar, mixing up "potions" made from the different colored saw dust. Julia and Gregory enjoyed the unique, homemade wooden toys they received, and we were all given hand-made ornaments every year, for Christmas. Dad’s basement workshop was a magical place to all of us as children. There were always piles of scrap wood and nails, hammers and saws, with which we could build any assortment of fanciful creations.
My father was lost without his wife. He could not have lived without her and he did everything he could for her. Even near the end, when he was almost immobile and incapacitated, he would ask if he could help her somehow. One of his last words before slipping away was to tell her that he loved her. They were together for 66 years (64 of those married).
Dementia is a mean disease. It steals the very essence of a life – one’s memories. Dad suffered from this for at least a decade. And yet, he quipped to me a few years ago that it did have an upside. He could re-read the same book or repeatedly watch reruns of a television program, and enjoy them just as much each time. But, when his legs began to fail him, I believe that was the most frustrating malady for this always-active man. He would swear at his body as he willed himself to move, at first fighting and later accepting, a cane, then a walker and finally a wheelchair. We all felt that he spent these last year living entirely on spite and unrelenting determination. But in the end, he had to give in. He was exhausted, and his body and mind were completely worn out.
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John Zettler posted a condolence
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Bill was a wonderful man. He was dedicated to his family and a long term member of MFD Company 4. God rest his soul and may he rest in eternal peace.
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Officers of Mahwah Company 4 Fire and Members posted a condolence
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
On behalf of Mahwah Fire Company #4 we send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Past- President, and brother firefighter, Bill Lamoreaux.
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Philip Lamoreaux uploaded photo(s)
Monday, October 10, 2016
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Wedding day!
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Philip Lamoreaux uploaded photo(s)
Monday, October 10, 2016
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He really loved his garden!
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Jack Gardner posted a condolence
Monday, October 10, 2016
Hi Pat,
Rich Silagyi called to tell me about the news of Bill's death. I was truly saddened. Bill was one of those men who, because of his roots in the community and the fire department was such a valuable asset for me as I set my roots in the Fardale area. We not only shared interests in the fire service, but we also enjoyed working with wood, gardening, and learning more about our local history. I think of Bill often when working in my wood shop and vividly recall how he helped me join the legs of a quilt rack that I made for Susan using a special piece of maple wood that he had just been given by a friend. His willingness to share this treasure of wood as well as his skills in making it fit properly was a valuable and memorable event. He truly left his mark.
Blessings and pease to all of your family,
Jack Gardner
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The Family of William Lamoreaux lit a candle
Monday, October 10, 2016
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Daniel & Kara Pagerie posted a condolence
Monday, October 10, 2016
We send our condolences for the loss of Uncle Bill. You are all in our thoughts.
Uncle Bill was a great man and therefore, will be greatly missed.
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Wyckoff, NJ, 07481
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