Obituary: Susan P. LaVigne
June 12, 1955 – January 15, 2025
January 17, 2025
Sue LaVigne. 1955-2025
Susan P. LaVigne, 69, passed away on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, with her family at her side in the comfort of her home in Berlin, Vermont. She was born on June 12, 1955, in Attleboro, Massachusetts, the daughter of George E. May and Ellen (Christensen) May. She married Michael LaVigne in 1998 in Milton, Vermont.
Susan graduated from Mount Mansfield High School in 1973. As a young mother, she was busy with her family and working, holding many jobs over the years that always included hard labor and service to others. She was the proud owner of a full-service laundry mat. She transported children with disabilities in small buses and vans. She was the housekeeping supervisor for a large hotel and also managed and operated a smaller hotel. She was known to be able to pack a house in the least number of boxes and into the smallest truck with her organizational skills, and then help unpack those same boxes and trucks after they made their way across towns, cities and the country.
On weekends and evenings after working a full-time job, Susan was known to help her brother with his lawn care company, working on flower beds and making them more beautiful than when she started. For the last 25 years, she owned and operated her own cleaning company, Sue’s Clean Sweep, which she operated until just before her death. She had some of her customers for the entire time she owned her business. She enjoyed yard sales, camping, gambling, picking fiddleheads, ice fishing, and cooking – all of which she taught her children and her grandchildren how to do. Some of them to this day still enjoy some of her favorite things that she taught them.
Susan is loved and mourned by her husband of 27 years, Michael LaVigne and their beloved dog Rambo, of Berlin, her mother Ellen May of Barre, and her children Teresa Haskins and husband Pete of Berlin, Nate Fuller and his partner Karen O’Brien of Waterbury, Richie Askew of Norton, Massachusetts, Chris Askew and his wife Tina of Norton, Massachusetts, Bethany LaVigne and her partner Robbie Dunkling of Starksboro, Vermont, and Michael LaVigne Jr. of Starksboro; also her sisters, Nancy Berry and husband Steve of Wolcott, Vermont, Cheryl Rendell of Weymouth, Massachusetts; her brother Skip May of Barre; grandsons Michael Haskins and his wife Hannah of Williamstown, Vermont, Dylan Haskins and his wife Megan of Waterbury, Brandon Fuller and Bryce Fuller of Richford, Vermont, Ricky Douglass and Joseph Askew of Attleboro, Massachusetts, Devon Askew of Norton, Massachusetts, Darryl Instasi of Carver, Massachusetts, Joshua Hines of Norton, Massachusetts; granddaughters, Meghan Traverse and husband Kevin of North Dighton, Massachusetts, Nikki Sawayer and husband Travis of Mansfield, Massachusetts, Kim-Ann Askew of W. Bridgewater, Massachusetts, Kalonie Askew of Attleboro and Shania Instasi of Taunton, Massachusetts, Chelsea Askew and Naomi Askew of Lenoir, North Carolina, Briana Fuller and her partner Logan Tinker of Milton, Vermont, Kate LaVigne of Johnson, Vermont, and Hayden Santa Maria of Starksboro, Vermont. Also 10 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and extended family.
She was predeceased by her father George May, two sisters, Brenda Kelley and Tammy Relation, two children, Holly Instasi and Sara Askew, grandson Trevor Haskins, and brothers-in-law Richard Kelley and Virgin Rendell.
Friends and family are invited to gather and celebrate Susan’s life, on Sunday, Jan. 26, at 11 a.m. at the Waterbury-Stowe Fish & Game Club at 5365 Waterbury-Stowe Road, Waterbury Center. The event will be a memorial reception that will include light refreshments and a time of sharing and fellowship.
For those who wish, memorial contributions would be appreciated to the Waterbury Common Market (formerly known as the Waterbury Food Shelf). Susan was always willing to lend a hand to those in need. To send online condolences, visit perkinsparker.com.