Obituary of Joshua L LaPointe

Massena - Joshua L. LaPointe, 34, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, December, 5, 2011, at Fletcher-Allen Medical Center in Burlington, VT. Arrangements are entrusted to the Hammill Funeral Home in Winthrop. He was born on October 21, 1977 in Massena, son of Welby and Jean McAllister LaPointe. Josh graduated from Massena High School in 1996, and from SUNY Oneonta, with a BS in Mesoamerican archaeology. He worked for the Outdoor Gear Exchange in Burlington Vermont, and owned Indigenous Skate and Snow in Lyndonville. Josh loved the outdoors, from the Adirondacks to the jungles of Belize. He was known by his friends and loved ones, too long to list for any obituary, as a loyal friend and a man with an enormous heart; when Josh was rich, all were rich. It was hard to cross his path and not fall in love with him, find yourself laughing out loud at his storytelling or recognize that you were in the presence of a light that shined too bright to stare into directly. It is unfortunate that his light burnt out too soon. Josh will be remembered for his love of music, his smile, his laugh, his hugs and the friendship that he offered to all. Most of all we will remember Josh as a devoted Papabear whose entire world revolved around his Babybear. We are thankful for his reminder that life is precious and fragile, and we will never forget how his energy, creativity and love touched all of our lives. Josh is survived by his wife, Heather and son, Noah; his parents, Welby and Jean LaPointe of Massena; his grandmother, Elizabeth McAllister of Ft. Jackson, his devoted partner, Malloree Kish, aunts, uncles, and cousins; Sheila Wagner, Brett and Philip, Lee McAllister and Benjamin and Jenae, Robert and Marybeth McAllister, Linda and Al Wilson, Dennis and Lynn LaPointe and Kimberly Willits. He was predeceased by his grandfather, Leland McAllister and his cousin, Cory McAllister. Family and friends may gather at the Hammill Funeral Home Saturday from 2 to 5 to share memories and stories of Josh's life. His Celebration of Life Service will begin at 5, led by his friend Scott Raymond from Burlington, VT. Those wishing to do so, please consider donations in Josh's honor to the E I Moses Walk/Run for Life, Inc., P. O. Box 87, Colton, NY 13625. Please share a memory of Josh with his family at www.hammillfh.com. .