Paul Christopher La Croix (1965-2021) Obituary and Memorial

Life story

Paul C. La Croix of Branford died Thursday March 18, 2021 at Yale-New Haven Hospital. He was the loving, caring, selfless, romantic husband of Lynn Jasaitis La Croix. Paul was born in New Haven August 19, 1965, son of Mary E. Conway La Croix of Hamden and the late Walter La Croix. He was a graduate of Notre Dame High School WH class of '83 and earned his Bachelor's at Quinnipiac University. Paul worked for Cisco Systems as a systems engineer for over 20 years. Besides his wife and mother, Paul is survived by his children of whom he was so proud, Christian P. La Croix, Julianna M. La Croix -USN, Jeremy W. La Croix, Eva T. Mathis and Nathaniel (Nate) Mathis; and his sisters, Michele Early of Clinton, Mary Beth (Daniel) Smith of West Haven, and Anne L. (Alfredo) Cordero of Branford, as well as his favorite Uncle Edward (Ebby) Conway. Paul as everyone knows, was a jack of all trades and master of them all. A true friend who would selflessly use his skills as an electrician, plumber, carpenter, networker, wifi master, Ethernet guru, sauce maker, pizza chef and inventor of whatever else was needed to get a job done. Paul was always the first to help. He lovingly agreed to all the asks – can the boys come over?, can the girls come over?, we're having 50 people over for a swim and some macaroni, that ok? Can you announce the game? Can you fix and run the fry-olater at concessions? Ooh and I know it's 30 degrees out but can you take pictures on the field for me? Can you help me? Yes. Always yes. The house that Paul built has a revolving door that is always open. He tore it to the studs and built it back up into a home for his grateful blended family. And his family is everything. His kids and wife want for nothing. Sparing no expense of time nor effort nor the shirt off his back. He adored all of his many friends old and new. Feller loved his Mimi, his sisters and his extended family –so many of whom had a special place in his heart. Godspeed Paul La Croix, but we know you'd rather Ludicrous Speed - so be it.

Please join us and visit with a smile on your face and happiness in your heart to celebrate Paul's life – that's what he would want. Visiting hours are Monday evening from 4:00 – 8:00 PM at the W. S. Clancy Memorial Funeral Home, 244 North Main Street, Branford. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday morning at 10:00 in St. John Bosco Parish at St. Mary Church, 731 Main Street, Branford. Burial will follow in St. Lawrence Cemetery, West Haven. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Branford Gridiron Club, or the BHS Hockey Booster Club

Space Balls: The Eulogy.

On behalf of my family I would like to thank everyone for being here to celebrate my dad.

Whether you called him Paul, Feller, Uncle Dadda, Uncle Paul, or dad, I know how much this hurts to have to be here today. But here we all are, being strong and doing it with our family. I know how much each one of you loved him.

The man behind the camera. That's how I think of my dad. Always trying to capture the moments of the people he loves, never worrying if he was on the other side of the lense. He planted so many beautiful seeds, never worrying if he would be able to smell the flowers, as long as his family had a beautiful garden to look at.

He was a jack of all trades, master of all. The best of the best. How could one guy be so smart and talented? It blows my mind. He worked hard at everything he put his hands on and created magic. Out of everything that man accomplished in his life, he never failed to tell me that his biggest accomplishment was his family. “ Success isn't happiness, but happiness is success” he’d say. His success was our smiles.

There are so many memories with my dad I can't just pick one to share, so I would like everyone to take a moment now and think of their favorite memory with Paul, and after the mass share it with just one person, preferably someone you do not know.

He was a father, son, brother, husband, uncle, cousin, friend, and to my siblings and step mother, he was our home.

To my siblings; he is so proud of you. He is always with us. Do not ever be afraid, we will always know what to do because we've been watching him.

To my Step mother; you were his north star, and will always be ours. I will never forget the sparkle in his eyes when he looked at you.

To my aunts; I see him in each one of you, and I love you deeply

And to my mimi; Thank you and pop pop for raising the most amazing human being in the world.

And to my family and anyone who wears the last name La Croix, wear it with pride and honor, today and every day. Always remember to spell it with a space and a capital C!

We are my fathers legacy!

How lucky are we all to have experienced a true, selfless and unconditional love?

The love from my dad will always be the closest to god i have ever felt. When I close my eyes and imagine what god's love feels like, I imagine it feels just like my dads.

He always kept what his grandma Han said to him close, and passed it on to his kids; you have to be in this world, but you do not have to be of this world. I think he lived by this pretty well, because that man sure was otherworldly. Let's all decide right now to not be of this world. Lets be like Paul.

My dad had a poetry book from highschool he kept close to him all these years. He passed it down to me when I was in highschool. We both share the same favorite poem. Its called “ How to be happy”

Are you almost disgusted with life, little man? I’ll tell you a wonderful trick

That will bring you contentment, if anything can, Do something for somebody, quick!

Are you awfully tired with play, little girl?

Wearied, discouraged, and sick –

I’ll tell you the loveliest game in the world,

Do something for somebody, quick!

Though it rains, like the rain of the flood, little man, And the clouds are forbidding and thick,

You can make the sun shine in your soul, little man, Do something for somebody, quick!

Though the stars are like brass overhead, little girl And the walks like a well-heated brick,

And our earthly affairs in a terrible whirl, Do something for somebody, quick!

Please keep this poem close to your heart when you think of my dad because this is how he lived; this is how he chose to be happy. Every day he made a choice to live with pride, honor, love, and commitment and he made the world so beautiful for it. Let's all decide right now to emulate these characteristics of my dad that we loved so much and make the world a better place. We could change the world if we lived and loved like paul.

May the Shwartz be with you, and thank you for coming. We love you more than anything dad.

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