Joseph Eugene LaFrance, of Warwick, passed away peacefully at home on May 31, 2025. He was 69 years old. Joe was the loving husband of Donna (Cote) LaFrance for 45 years. He was the youngest child of the late Gaston and Doris (Bessette) LaFrance. He was a 1974 graduate of Saint Raphael Academy.
Joe was a 25-year veteran of the United State Navy, earning many distinguished honors throughout his career. After enlisting, Joe quickly attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer. Three years later, he advanced to Chief Warrant Officer. Joe served on multiple submarines, ships, and duty stations stateside and across the world, stopping at many ports along the way. He also served through the Cold War, Vietnam War, and Gulf War. After 25 years of service, Joe retired out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington at the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3 in 1999. Following his military service, Joe served in the United States Postal Service until finally retiring in 2021.
Joe was the loving father of Joseph (Jennifer Sanger) of Maryland, Giselle Mahoney (Patrick) of North Kingstown, and Monique Bartley (David) of Cumberland. In addition to his wife and children, Joe is survived by his sister Lucille Holcomb of Coventry, Jean Dunham of Florida, and Claire Lee of Florida. He is predeceased by his sister Pauline Strach. He is the pepere of eight cherished grandchildren - Alyssa, Ashton, Quinten, Joseph, Everett, Abigail, Memphis, and Davey.
Joe was a beloved husband, dad, pepere, brother, uncle, neighbor, and friend to all who knew him. He would do whatever he could to help someone in need.
An avid fisherman, his favorite pastime was to be on the lake, the ocean, or the shoreline reeling in the latest catch or just nothing at all. He loved sharing his passion for fishing with everyone he could. On shore, Joe loved watching old horror and sci-fi movies for which he knew an unlimited amount of useless trivia. In his retirement, he was a burgeoning gardener and cook, which his family were always eager taste testers. Every Halloween, the LaFrance house became an anticipated attraction, fully decorated in pirates, witches, spiders, and gravestones. Joe and Donna often took trips to visit their son, Joe, sisters, and to explore the country together.
His Funeral Service will be held on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 9:00am, from the Thomas & Walter Quinn Funeral Home, 2435 Warwick Ave, Warwick, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am, in St. Timothy Church, Warwick. Interment with full Military Honors will follow in the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Exeter. Relatives and friends are invited to join his visitation in the Funeral Home on Thursday, June 19, 2025, from 4:00-7:00pm.
In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to the Wounded Warrior Project or your local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
For online tributes and condolences, please visit: www.TheQuinnFuneralHome.com
