Laura Virginia Chalifoux, 76, of Southborough, passed away suddenly on Friday, September 16, 2016 at home.
She was born in Nashua, NH, to Levi J. and Mildred E. (Shunaman) Chalifoux. Laura grew up on a dairy farm in Hudson, New Hampshire and graduated from Alvirne High School in Hudson in 1958. After working as a hospital laboratory technician in Nashua for several years, she graduated with a biology degree from the University of New Hampshire in 1969.
Laura was employed for many years by Harvard Medical School, moving to the New England Regional Primate Center in Southborough when it opened and retiring in 2000. During that time, she was author/coauthor of more than 40 scientific papers and book chapters.
Laura was always a lover of animals, first as a young 4-H member caring for Jersey cows on the family farm, and later raising canaries. She was especially devoted to her pet dogs, Sun Dog, Bonnie, Frisky, Mildred, and Dundee.
Laura is survived by her sister, Margery C. Coombs, and her husband, Walter P. Coombs, Jr., of Belchertown, MA; a nephew, Matthew W. Coombs and his wife Tana Bloom of Greenfield, MA; a niece, Alexandra V. Coombs and her husband Shane Treesh of West Grove, PA; also numerous cousins and their families and several good friends.
Her thoughtfulness and quiet kind nature will always be remembered.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, September 26, at 2 PM at the Morris Funeral Home, 40 Main Street, Southborough, MA.
Burial will be in St Peter’s Cemetery, Walpole, NH, with her parents and other members of the Chalifoux family, on Tuesday at 11 AM. Memorial contributions may be sent in her memory to the Nature Conservancy.
To leave words of condolence to the family, please visit Morrisfuneralparlor.com
(Obituary via Morris Funeral Home)
