Marianne Teresa LaFontaine a long time resident of Amelia Island , Florida entered her Heavenly Home on Tuesday, July 12th surrounded by her loving family.

Marianne was born in Corpus Christi, Texas and spent her life growing up in Rota, Spain,Pensacola, Florida, and Chesapeake, Va. She was a devout Roman Catholic and her strong faith in God was a great source of comfort to her throughout her life.
Marianne had a fine appreciation for life itself but especially for family, friends, art , music and traveling. She had strong faith, a great sense of humor and even stronger convictions and was rarely seen without her service dog Bear her faithful companion of 14 years .

She is survived by her loving husband Ray, her daughter Jenifer, son Christopher and his wife Tierra, her four grandchildren Aden, Christian, Connor and Emma. Marianne is also survived by her mother, Jimmye Hayes, and her sisters Annette Hayes and Kris Gibson all of Virginia, and many other family members.

She was predeceased by her father, Bert Hayes, father and mother in law, Harry and Hideko LaFontaine.

Marianne was appreciative of the many friendships she made over the years and the loving care she was given during that time. She never met a stranger; and considered herself blessed to have cross paths with people she referred to as angels sent by God. Her family would like to express their deep appreciation to those individuals, so many who were unknown, who assisted Marianne during her daily journeys by holding open a door so she could maneuver her wheelchair into a building, removing something from a shelf or rack and placing it in her lap, or helping her to get her wheelchair unstuck in the soft earth. These simple acts of kindness further strengthened her belief in the goodness of humanity.She lived each day to the fullest, always believing that despite her chronic illness, so many other people had it far worse than her. She had a warm heart and generous nature and quietly gave to those in need.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate a Life Well Lived. A Wake will be held Friday, July 22 , from 5-7 pm at Oxley-Heard Funeral Home .

The Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, July 23rd at 10:30 am at St. Michaels Catholic Church, Amelia Island. A reception will follow at the fellowship hall. The family would like to express their deep appreciation to Nassua County Council on Aging and Community Hospice of Northeast Florida for providing excellent care and loving attention to Marianne and her family during this sad and difficult time.

We have all been made better for having been blessed by her presence in our Life. She will be sadly missed but not forgotten.

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida.