Gloria Coffin

Gloria Mae Laramee Coffin, age 79 passed away on September 14th at McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, VT with her daughter Leeann by her side after a short battle with cancer.

Gloria was born in Burlington, VT on October 26th, 1943 and raised by her parents Elizabeth (St. Pierre) and Ralph Lamphere.

She graduated from Milton High School in 1961, married and raised 2 children, Michele and Leeann with Marcel Laramee. They built their house together on Clay Point Road nearby her parents and only brother Roy Lamphere and his family. She sold Avon, Sara Coventry, and waitressed part time which suited her as she was a social woman.

After 19 years she moved on and out to be independent where she shared with the nurses recently that her favorite job was being a bartender at the Brick Oven in South Burlington Vt (currently the Guild). It was there, she met Francis Coffin. He was a traveling broiler maker from Maine and would swing by the bar after work and have dinner and a drink. They moved to Errol NH together, started a business, Errol Oil and married in 1989. It was in August of 2003 they decided to sell the business to spend more time with family. However, a tragic car accident took Fran’s life way too soon in January of 2004. 

Gloria was independent and chose to stay in Errol even though she dreaded the long winters there. She continued to waitress and bartend into her 70’s. When asked recently, if she could’ve chosen any career, what would it be, she responded, ‘A secretary’, but then followed up with ‘I’m happy with what I did in my life’.

Her decline started when she lost her first born child, Michele Laramee Bartlett to an auto immune disease in 2020. She could not fathom life without her. Covid kept her in Errol until May of this year where she came to her daughter, Leeann in Vermont to explore the last phase of her life. She was looking forward to the summer, Bingo, Miller Lites on the deck or an occasional beer at a bar, visits with family and friends and good food. Instead she was greeted with dizziness, CAT scans and MRI’s that eventually gave her a stage 4 cancer diagnosis. When asked recently if she felt almost 80 she replied, “No I feel 60!”. 

Gloria’s motto in life was ‘I’m here for a good time, not a long time’, and she lived up to the motto daily.

She is survived by her daughter Leeann Laramee Wright and husband Dayle Wright. Their son, Austin Wright and his partner, Jessica Conte, their recently married daughter (9/8/23), Abigail Mulcahy and her husband Christopher Mulcahy. Gloria was able to watch the wedding virtually from her room at the Respite House. She is also survived by her grandson, Warren Bartlett, Gloria’s only brother Roy Lamphere, and his son Shea Lamphere and his partner Liz Roy and their two sons, Nick and Nate and Kelly Lamphere wife of her predeceased nephew,  Shawn Lamphere and his daughter Jessy Lamphere and sister in law  Marcia Lamphere. She leaves behind many beloved aunts, uncles and cousins.

A special thank you to Lorraine Turner, a friend and neighbor in Errol, who supported her for years with weekly home cooked meals, grocery shopping, driving to medical appointments and keeping her company when she was not able to get out on her own. There are not many people like Lorraine that give their time unconditionally like she did for Gloria.

Thank you to Elderwood for her early care. A heartfelt thank you to every single staff member, from the McClure Miller Respite House that models how elder and end of life care should be for everyone. We have much to do in our healthcare systems.

A memorial service will be held, rain or sunshine,  graveside at the West Milton Cemetery, 42-62 Bear Trap Road, Milton  on Saturday, October 7th, 11:00am.

Immediately following, Shea Lamphere and Liz Roy have generously opened their barn, 81 Watkins Road, Milton for a gathering of family and friends for food and drink at 81 Watkins Road in Colchester.

In lieu of flowers, please make an effort to seek out a family member that would appreciate a home cooked meal, a competitive poker game, a walk in the sunshine, a good belly laugh or to reminisce together.  Please share a photo of this on The Lamphere Reunion and/or Gloria Coffin's Facebook Page.

If you choose to make a monetary donation, we encourage donations to:

McClure Miller Respite 

This is their Wish List

• Coffee-Unflavored, ground, regular and decaf for residents and loved ones
• Gift Cards Amazon, Shaw’s, Hannaford, Price Chopper, Costco

See the link below for a complete list of their needs:

https://www.uvmhomehealth.org/vna-programs-wish-list/