Obituary of Ginette LaFosse

Ginette La Fosse, born Ginette Bizzotto on July 31, 1930 in Paris France, passed away peacefully at her home on November 14, 2015. She is survived by her brother Chris Pascal of New Jersey and her sister Paulette Greaumme who lives in France. She also leaves behind her son Robert Souperon and the father of her children, Michel Souperon of New Hampshire; daughter Elaine Souperon and grandchildren Nicole and Kate Beardsley, Cousins Roland and Nancy Pascal all of Santa Cruz. Other family members include her step son David LaFosse of South Carolina, step daughter Patricia Wilbur of Massachusetts, brother-in-law Alfred LaFosse and niece Louise LaFosse of San Jose, Nephews Mark and Chris Pascal, nieces Natalie Careri, Michelle Chavez, and Kristen Pascal all of New Jersey. At the tender age of fifteen, after enduring many hardships during the war, Ginettes' mother decided to leave France and head for the United States. Along with her mother and two siblings, Ginette boarded a ship for New York. Carrying roughly twenty passengers "The Fort Royal", which Ginette later affectionately referred to as the "banana boat", arrived eleven days later at Ellis Island having dodged torpedoes along the way. New York is where Ginette and her family began to start a new life. To help support the family she started working at a perfume shop putting caps on bottles. At age seventeen she began working in New York's garment district. Working her way up, she eventually became a seamstress working with the top fashion designers of the era sewing evening gowns and the like for entertainers such as Kate Smith. While living in New York in 1950, Ginette married Michel Souperon and soon after had their first child, Robert. When Robert turned four, the family moved to Campton New Hampshire where she and Michel started new professions including; owning and operating a restaurant and running a combination gas station/cabin rental business. In 1964 she had her second child, daughter Elaine. After a divorce in 1976, Ginette relocated to Santa Cruz with her second husband Armand LaFosse. Never one to sit still, she could often be found assisting on one of Armands' many construction jobs in between serving customers at See's Candies, where she also worked for almost 15 years. In 1991 Ginette was blessed with her first grandchild Nicole, followed by Kate in 1993. She often enjoyed spending time with them teaching them the things they needed to know like how to save for a rainy day or how to make green soup "the correct way". As an experienced chef, Ginette could usually be found in her kitchen creating something good. Holidays were always memorable with family and friends, good wine and an absolutely delicious meal prepared by her. She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh always saying, "Laughter keeps the wrinkles away". She was a no nonsense kind of girl, who didn't put up with, in her words, "stupidity"; she knew what she wanted and how she wanted it. Her sixth sense would always make anyone close to her think twice before trying to pull one over on her, she would always find out. Despite her practical sensibilities and sometimes stern exterior, Ginette always managed to give lots of love in her own way. She was like a French baguette, hard and crusty on the outside, but soft and warm on the inside. She will be missed by the many that knew her. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Ginettes name can be made to St. Judes Children Hospital or The Ronald McDonald House. There will be a viewing Friday, November 20 at Santa Cruz Memorial Mission Chapel from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. A celebration of life will be privately held Saturday, November 21 at 2:00pm. For information please contact Nancy at (831) 423-2422. If you would like to send your condolences to Ginette's family, light a candle in her honor, and share your memories, please visit www.scmemorial.com.