Obituary
“Arlene Carole LaSalle (78), of Ormond by the Sea, Florida, passed away fighting a courageous battle with cancer and was surrounded by family on January 20, 2021. Arlene was born November 1, 1942 in Deckerville, Michigan to Arthur and Nina Tanton.
After High School, Arlene enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton in California. This is where she met and married the love of her life, John J. LaSalle, also in the United States Marine Corps. They soon started a family and moved to the Jersey Shore in New Jersey spending most of their time fishing and enjoying life. Later, they moved to Ormond By the Sea, Florida where they enjoyed fishing and especially going out with friends to dancing venues, where they danced 2-3 times weekly as everyone’s favorite “Bandstand Couple”, her husband John having been on American Bandstand as a dancer from 1958-1959. They were married nearly 59 years.
Arlene spent many years in New Jersey then in Flagler County Schools and finally Monarch Academy in Volusia County, Florida devoting her life to working with Special Needs students and especially Children with Autism. Arlene never met a stranger and always met everyone with a smile. She loved these children and their families like they were her own. She touched the Autism community so profoundly and in her death that was so significantly evident.
Arlene is predeceased by her parents Arthur and Nina Tanton, her sister Fern Williamson, her in-laws James and Natalie LaSalle, her great nephew Luke Smith, and many Aunts, Uncles, and cousins.
She is survived by her loving husband John LaSalle, her brother Wayne Tanton (Rebecca), her son James LaSalle (Krissi), her daughter Cheri LaSalle, six grandchildren Krystle Sikora (Arthur), Amanda Nowicki, Joei LaSalle, Josh LaSalle, James Migliaccio, and John Migliaccio, two great grandchildren Benjamin Durer and Virginia Sikora, nieces Robin Knoerr, Vicky Smith, Valorie Liebler, Tonya Donahue, Kristin Russell, Sarah Veal, nephew Brigham Tanton, many Aunts, Uncles, dear cousins and dear friends.
A Memorial Service for Arlene will be planned in the near future for her and the family will reach out to family and friends with details.
“Our hearts were not ready, but your wings were and now is dancing with Jesus in Heaven.”
Leave a reply