Ipswich - Ipswich - Stella Helen (Martel) LaVallee, 84, passed away on Friday, January 24th, due to complications associated with dementia.

Stella was born on August 10, 1940, ninth-born to Stella (Trudel) and Arthur Raymond Martel in Ipswich. She was raised among her large immediate and extended family on Washington Street, attending Saint Stanislaus Church and School until eighth grade. She completed her high school education at Sainte Chrétienne Academy in Salem in 1957. After high school she began training to become a neonatal nurse in Lynn. For a short period of time, she lived in Washington, DC with a sibling. When she returned to Ipswich, she took a job at Saint Joseph's Credit Union in Salem as a teller, and it was there that she met Norman LaVallee of Salem. They were married the following year in Denver, CO, where Norman was stationed at the Lowry U.S. Air Force Base (Aurora, CO). Soon after the birth of their first daughter there, they made their way back to the North Shore, and settled in Salem. Their second daughter was born shortly afterward; and then with two toddlers she returned to Ipswich, where they purchased a home on Farley Avenue. Another daughter was born shortly thereafter.

Stella loved Ipswich, especially Crane Beach. As a child, she most enjoyed spending time with her father during their many Sunday walks in town. As a young mom, she enjoyed many hours with her children at Bialek Park, aka, 'the Ball Grounds', and Crane and Wingaersheek Beaches. She was happiest at family gatherings with her siblings and in-laws and their families. She worked for a few years as a Teachers' Aide at the Burley School and the Steward School (Topsfield) when her children were in elementary school in the 1970s.

Due to on-going health concerns, Stella moved to the Golden Pond Assisted Living care center in Hopkinton, MA in February of 2010.

Stella is survived by her three daughters: Theresa Parker of Warwick, RI; Jeanne LaVallee of New York, NY; and Laura O'Flynn of Ipswich; her eight grandchildren, Claire, Deirdre, Ciara, Brigid, Hannah, Frannie, Katie, and Mark; and her five great-grandchildren, Josh, Hannah, Evan, Chloe and Calvin; along with several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband in 2010.

The family wishes to thank the staff and community at Golden Pond for their consistent care and services throughout Stella's 15 years there.

In Stella's memory, donations may be made to the Ipswich River Watershed Association: www.ipswichriver.org. Assisting Stella's family is the Morris Funeral Home of Ipswich. A funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Hope Church in Ipswich, Saturday, February 1, 10 a.m, relatives and friends are respectfully invited. There will be no visiting hours. To send a letter of condolence to Mrs. LaVallee's family please go to: MorrisFH.com.