2021 -- H 6113

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LC002376

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

     EXPRESSING DEEPEST CONDOLENCES ON THE PASSING OF NORMAN

LANDROCHE, SR.

     Introduced By: Representatives Noret, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Filippi, Serpa, Casimiro,
Alzate, Williams, Fogarty, and Ajello

     Date Introduced: March 09, 2021

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, It is with deep sadness that this House has learned of the passing of Norman

Landroche, Sr., a dedicated public servant for many years. Mr. Landroche was the son of Leo and

Blanche Landroche and lived his entire life in West Warwick. He was the devoted husband of

Yvette for sixty-two years; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Landroche, known as “Big Norm” by family and friends, served our

nation with honor, courage and distinction during the Korean War as a member of the United

States Army. He was a member of the 25th Infantry Division and received the Combat

Infantryman Badge Award along with other campaign awards and ribbons. He was discharged

with the rank of Staff Sergeant; and

     WHEREAS, After returning to West Warwick after his military service, Mr. Landroche

worked as a carpenter and used his carpentry skills to build his parents a home. He also played

guitar in a band, and met his future bride while both were playing “gigs” at the same event; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Landroche’s lifelong goal as a young man was to become a firefighter.

He got his start as a callman in 1955 and eventually reached his goal and became a full-fledged

firefighter in December of 1966. In his distinguished thirty-two year career as a firefighter with

the West Warwick Fire Department, Mr. Landroche worked tirelessly to protect the lives and

property of the citizenry of West Warwick. He valiantly fought numerous major fires including

the St. Onge fire in 1972, the Agway fire in 1987 and the Crompton Mill fire in 1992; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Landroche was a hard-working and devoted family man who worked

two jobs most of his life in order to provide for his loved ones and ensure that his children

received the best education possible. Despite his busy life, he always found the time to attend his

children’s academic, sporting and other important activities, and was always willing to help in

any way he could, such as volunteering to drive a bus to transport his kids' teams to competitions

and other important events; and

     WHEREAS, Music was always a big part of Mr. Landroche’s life, whether he was

playing his guitar or serving as a “roadie” for the Landroche Family Singers. Mr. Landroche

loved travelling with his family, especially after he purchased a pop-up trailer. Maine, in

particular, was a favorite family travel destination. He also travelled with his wife and family to

London, Germany, Hawaii, St. Kitts, and many other destinations, and he always managed to

include on his trips a tour of the local fire station; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Landroche and his wife enjoyed attending events at Trinity Repertory

and later the Providence Performing Arts Center, and switched to attending Providence Bruins

hockey games and URI Basketball games after his hearing began to decline. He enjoyed riding

his John Deere in his big yard, where he would give his grandkids rides and reminisce about the

time when he built a chicken coop and raised chickens and a rooster to provide fresh eggs for his

family. He once built a garden but ended up turning it into a competition-level horseshoe court

which he used for family gatherings and Fourth of July parties. He was also a superb cook and

particularly enjoyed cooking pork pies and pea soup every Christmas Eve for Réveillon following

midnight Mass; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Landroche was a member of Club Frontenac and the West Warwick

Elks. He was also a member of the Firefighters Local 1104 Executive Board, and the West

Warwick Police & Firefighter Association; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to his wife, Yvette, Mr. Landroche leaves behind his children,

Janine Burke-Wells and her wife, Roberta, the Honorable Norman Landroche, Jr., and his wife,

Kim, John-Paul Landroche, and Julie Noret and her husband, the Honorable Tom Noret. Mr.

Landroche was also a devoted grandfather to his eight grandchildren, Logan, Leighton, and

Brighton Landroche, John-Paul Jr., and Joseph Landroche, Billie Burke, and Addison and Robbie

Noret. He also leaves behind his brothers-in-law Romeo and Louis Maynard and his sisters-in-

law Ninette Morduant and Jackie Maynard, as well as many close friends; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

expresses its deepest condolences on the passing of Mr. Norman Landroche, Sr.; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to Yvette Landroche, Janine Burke-Wells, the

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Honorable Norman Landroche, Jr., John-Paul Landroche and Julie Noret.

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