Dennis R. LaMarche

Dennis R. LaMarche

HAMMONDSPORT – Dennis Raymond LaMarche of Hammondsport, NY Succumbed to a year’s long illness on Monday, April 17, 2023.

Dennis was born on July 31, 1950, in Buffalo, NY to Raymond LaMarche and Lois May (née Blackman) LaMarche.  He lived in Holland, NY where he attended school, was an altar boy at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, worked at Moore’s Red and White Grocery Store, but always refused to go in the basement, and always created mischief with his friends.
He later attended Alfred State College before he was politely asked to leave after creating more mischief as a member of Kappa Sigma Epsilon.  He then found his true calling at Simmon’s School of Mortuary Science in Syracuse, NY.
Following Simmon’s, Dennis worked at Vay-Schleich & Meeson Funeral Home and John M Hedge’s Funeral Home in Rochester, NY.  In 1979, Dennis accepted a position at Bond-Davis Funeral Home in Hammondsport.  Later, Dennis and a business partner purchased the business and then converted the Hammondsport Location into LaMarche Funeral Home. In 2020 Dennis sold the business to begin his retirement.

Dennis was a member, and past president, of Rotary in Hammondsport, The Bath Rod & Gun Club, The Moose Lodge, The Glenwood Club, and The American Legion.  He was also a Fire Commissioner and Fire Marshall for the Hammondsport Fire Department.  He is one of only two men from Steuben County to be on the cover of Sports Illustrated Magazine.
Dennis is survived by his daughter, Jennifer LaMarche and son-in-law DJ Philips. His son, Matthew LaMarche and daughter-in-law Haley and their three children Hayden, Bennett, and Adaline. As well as his sister Barbara Keller and his niece and nephews, cousins, and many dear friends from Holland and Hammondsport.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 28, 2023, at the American Legion, Hammondsport.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in his honor can be made to the Hammondsport Fire Department, P.O. Box 337, Hammondsport, NY 14840.  A portion of donations collected will be used to maintain the flower planter and fence at the Elmwood Cemetery in Hammondsport in his memory.  Dennis has maintained these for many years.

The Bishop & DeSanto Funeral Home, 35 Main St., Hammondsport, is honored to assist Dennis’s family with the arrangements.

Online condolences or remembrances of Dennis are welcome in the comment section below or on the Facebook page of Bishop-Johnson & DeSanto Funeral Home.