LAWRENCE M. "LARRY" PARKER JR. BURLINGTON - Lawrence M. "Larry" Parker Jr., 61, died at his home in Burlington, surrounded by his loving family, on Feb. 25, 2010 after a very courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Burlington on Dec. 22, 1948, son of Lawrence M. Parker Sr. and Christine Lillian (Lucia) Parker. Larry was married to Paula Jane Badger on June 7, 1969 in St. Stephen Church in Winooski. He was a longtime member and Eucharistic minister at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral. He had served as Committee Chairman for the Boy Scouts. He was a member of the BPOE #916, the Eagles #793, South Burlington Knights of Columbus. He served on the Investigation Committee for the Elks and volunteered for many functions there, including the children's Christmas parties and the food booth at the Champlain Valley Fair. He also volunteered for the Dragon Boat Festival. Larry was an avid bowler, softball player and umpire, hunter and fisherman and line dancer. He was a passionate Yankees and Giants fan. He was a wonderful husband, father, and papa, who loved cheering his grandchildren on in sports. He was a great friend who always had a wonderful sense of humor. Larry was a hard worker, forced to retire from his job as a baker at Shaw's because of his illness. Prior to Shaw's, he had worked for Hauke Building Supply for 16 years. Larry is survived by his wife of 40 years, Paula Parker; his daughters and their husbands, Patricia and Richard Poquette of Burlington, Connie and Michael Bombard of Milton, and Paula "PJ" and James Palin of Colchester; his adopted son through love, Todd LaPlante of Swanton; his sister, Dianne Blaise of Winooski; 3 brothers, Stanley J. Parker and wife, Alice, of Winooski, Emmet Parker and Peter Parker, both of Fairfax; 10 beloved grandchildren, Richard "Bud", Kyle and Adam Poquette, Justin, Bradley and Elizabeth Bombard, Tyler "Tigger" , Makayla, Karlie, and Cole Palin. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Patricia Badger of Milton; his brothersin-law and sisters-in-law, Richard Badger and his friend, Sissy, of Milton, Pamela and Robert Pratt of Jericho, Randy and Donna Badger of OH, Becky and Stanley Blow of Swanton, Steven Badger of Milton, Susan Barron of Randolph, Robyn and Neil Comstock of Colchester, and Todd Badger of North Ferrisburgh; many, many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends; and his beloved friend and companion, Cuddles. He was predeceased by his parents; his brother, Dwight Parker; and father-in-law, Paul Badger. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday in St. Joseph CoCathedral with interment to follow in Lakeview Cemetery. Visiting hours will be from 4 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 28 in the Boucher and Pritchard Funeral Home, 85 N. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Members of St. Joseph Parish will meet at the funeral home at 5 p.m. for prayers. Arrangements are by Boucher and Pritchard Funeral Directors. Contributions may be made to the Cancer Patient Support Program, c/o Becky Welsh, Radiation Therapy Patient Fund, 111 Colchester Ave., Burlington, Vt. 05401. Paula and her family would like to send their deepest appreciation to Dr. Thomas Roland, Dr. Phillips, Jean Sheehy, Jean Menard, Becky Welsh and the entire Radiation Oncology staff at Fletcher Allen Health Care as well as all our family members for the wonderful support through this difficult time.
