Julia J. LaChance

Julia J. (Heroux) LaChance, age 90, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 10, 2023 with her daughter Francine at her side at the Arbors at Taunton Assisted Living and Memory Care. She was the wife of the late Gerard B. LaChance.

A daughter of the late Leonidas Sr. and Annie I. (Daily) Heroux, Julia was born in Dighton, MA where she grew up on a farm until moving to Fall River, MA shortly after graduating from Dighton High School in 1951. Julia lived most of her life in Fall River, MA, and her early farm life inspired her to create and expand gardens that surrounded her home, reflecting the beauty that was in her heart. She started with rose bushes, crocuses, tulips, and chrysanthemums, and then moved to tomatoes (her lifelong favorite) zucchini and string beans. Her gardens were elegant all year round, and as the famous poet John Keats said “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” That was one of the gifts Julia left us with. After the passing of her husband, Julia lived with her oldest daughter, Claudette, in Assonet for almost 10 years where she continued her love for gardening and her other passions, before moving into the Arbors.

When Julia was staying with her brother and sister-in-law, Jimmy and Lillian Haskins, she met the man who would be her husband for 54 years. Gerard’s father owned a grocery store in the South End of Fall River called the Red and White, and when he delivered groceries to the Haskins’ home Julia and Gerard met, fell in love, married, and started their family. Sunday dinners, attending mass, camping each summer, and skiing in the winter were just part of their active lives.

Julia worked at Trina Inc. until retiring in 1995. Her interest in gardening led her to join the Fall River Garden Club. She also became a member of the Freetown Senior Club. Mrs. LaChance was a long-time communicant of St Joseph’s Church in Fall River, where she was also the Treasurer of the Women’s Guild.

Additionally, Julia enjoyed assembling jigsaw puzzles and playing cards with relatives, especially her grandchildren. She had many talents as well. She was an excellent cook, particularly the family meals she prepared for special occasions and holidays, and an accomplished seamstress. When her daughters were young, she made them, and sometimes herself, matching Easter and Christmas dresses, and clothes for their dolls. She read a book a day and also took yoga classes at the Fall River YMCA five days a week. Julia had a great sense of humor and a smile that lit up the room. She and her late husband Gerard were faithful church goers, sitting in the front pew at St. Joseph’s Church seven days a week.

Julia is survived by: four children, Claudette A. Torres of Assonet, MA, Francine C. LaChance of Newport, RI, David B. LaChance and his wife Jane of Raynham, MA, and Kathleen J. LaChance-Galang and her husband Roy of Wayland; seven grandchildren, Beth Dylag and her husband Arthur, Kristen Torres-Powers and her husband Joseph Powers, Robert Torres, Meridith Reeves and her husband Bobby, Nicholas Galang, Jonathan LaChance and Daniel LaChance; two great-grandchildren, Lorelai Dylag and Cole R. Torres-Powers and countless nieces and nephews as Julia was one of eight children, and her late husband Gerard was one of twelve. The blessings of growing up in a large family touched all.

She was the sister of the late Lillian Finn, Florence Heroux, Dorothy Braga, Leona Hazel, Francis Haskins, James Haskins and Leonidas Heroux, Jr.

The Visitation/Wake will be held on Friday, December 15th, from 4 PM – 7 PM at the Waring Sullivan Cherry Place Funeral and Cremation Service, 178 Winter Street, Fall River, MA 02720. On Saturday, December 16th, guests may gather from 10 AM – 10:30 AM for a Short Visitation/Final Viewing before proceeding to the Funeral Mass at 11 AM at St. Joseph’s Church, 1335 N Main St, Fall River, MA 02720. The Burial is private.