James Edward Lavelle

Jim was born on Staten Island, New York in 1932, 90 years and 3 days prior to his passing. His father, James Francis Lavelle, was an Irish immigrant with a good and solid civil service job and his mother, a native New Yorker, Josephine Helen Brophy, was born of two highly responsible Irish immigrants. Josephine passed away when her son (Jimsy to her) was two years of age. He was an only child and very much loved by his stepmother, Evelyn Hicks, and father from age five and after.

Jim would later marry Rose Bernadette Carragher in February 1962 and then raise a son, James Francis Lavelle. They lived as a family on Long Island, New York and Jim served the NYC Fire Department as a fireman and later lieutenant until his retirement in the early 1990s. Jim completed his bachelor’s studies in history and literature with honors at Fordham University during the evenings, graduating in 1973; post retirement, he returned to university at Stony Brook and earned his Masters in Literature and completed all of his course work toward his Doctorate, again with distinction.

Jim was a loving and committed husband, father, father-in-law and grandfather. He supported his wife, Rose, with great grace and compassion always but especially during the last several years of her life as she battled with the impact of Alzheimer’s disease. He moved to his beloved Cape Cod in 2018 with Rose and enjoyed its beaches, sunsets and great “Cape air” as well as frequent visits and celebrations with his family.

Jim’s wife Rose passed away in January 2021, and he leaves behind a loving family led by his son, Jim, and daughter-in-law, Michelle Ann LeFort Lavelle, as well as four grandchildren living in New York City, Madeleine Victoria Lavelle Peikin (married to Roger Alexander Peikin), Gabrielle Claire Lavelle (engaged to Kevin de Burgh Daly), Genevieve Marie Lavelle and Hugh James Lavelle plus a fifth grandchild, Martine Anna Lavelle, a college junior.

Jim was very active in his Catholic faith and committed to many charities serving the disadvantaged youth and others in the US and abroad. Charitable donations in lieu of flowers can be sent to --

www.BoysTown.org or via mail: Boys Town, 14100 Crawford Street, Boys Town, Nebraska 68010,