Paulette LaPalm Pittsfield, MA – Paulette Marie LaPalm, age 79, passed away on April 6, 2023 at MidState Medical Center in Meriden, CT. She was born in Northampton, MA on August 7, 1943, the daughter of Horace L. LaPalm and Adeline (Merritt) LaPalm. She was a graduate of Williamsburg High School Class of 1960; North Adams State College 1966 Cum Laude with a B.A. in Education and the University of New Mexico 1981 with a Master’s in Education.
Paulette taught elementary school for 30 years in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Nicaragua and New Mexico. In 1987 she moved to Pittsfield where she taught at Conte Community School for 11 years. After retiring from teaching in 1998 Paulette was an interpreter at Hancock Shaker Village for several years and worked as a Library Assistant at the Berkshire Athenaeum.
While in Pittsfield Paulette was a member of the Pittsfield Business and Professional Women Club, holding many offices including President in 1992; she was also a member of The Real Women Essay Contest Task Force holding many positions including Coordinator for several years during which the group gained national recognition from the National Women’s History Project. Paulette was also a member of the College Club for several years and she was a member of The First Congregational Church where she served on the Mission Board as Church Historian.
Paulette is predeceased by her brother Donald LaPalm who passed in 1999. She is survived by her brother Alan LaPalm, his wife Judy and their 4 children Eric, Arron, Nathan and Tiffany as well as Don’s 3 children, Melanie, Holly and Brian and 11 great nieces and nephews.
Please join us for a Celebration of Life on Sunday, June 11, 2023 at Burgy Bullets Snowmobile Club, 12 Laurel Rd, Haydenville, MA from 3PM to 6PM.
My thoughts and prayers are with Paulette's family also. Paulette and I worked at the same Elementary School in Ramah, NM with the Gallup-McKinley School District from 1979-1980. She was my next door neighbor and taught Kindergarten. I taught 3rd grade. I had two dogs and two cats and Paulette was always a fantastic neighbor and colleague. I relocated to Wisconsin at the end of that school year. Paulette and I traveled together to Canada (Ottawa and Montreal) in either the summer of 1980 or 1981, I can't remember which and we came back to New London, Wisconsin (I was temporarily living with my parents) after visiting a few states in the northeast before Paulette returned to Rama…
My thoughts and prayers are with Paulette’s family. I worked with Paulette for a few years at the Berkshire Athenaeum back in the 1990’s. Paulette worked in the Children’s and Young Adult Libraries sharing her professionalism with all needing her assistance both young and old. She was a wonderful person. Sincerely, Carol Nykorchuck Mazza
Ed and I send our deep sympathy to Paulette's family.
Paulette and I were friends for over 50 years. We first became friends when we were teaching at Center School in Easthampton.
Ed and I have so many good memories of time spent with Paulette. Paulette was the definition of a good friend. We will miss her.
Sue Walz Ed Procon