Peter Clarence LaFave

Early in the morning of Tuesday, June 17, 2025, Peter Clarence LaFave passed away at his home in Plano, Texas. Peter was born on July 11, 1944, in Malone, New York to the late Clarence “Rake” LaFave and Anne Bradley LaFave. After graduating high school from Saint Joseph’s Ursuline Academy in Malone in 1962, he attended LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York. He graduated in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.

Following college, Pete entered the U.S Air Force in June of 1967. He served in Vietnam (Danang, 1969) and received several awards for his service including the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal. He was Honorably Discharged in June 1971.

In 1973, he received his Associate of Applied Science in Data Processing at the Jefferson Community College in Watertown, New York. He then moved to New York City where he began a long and successful career at JC Penny as an accountant. In 1988, he was transferred to Plano, Texas, a city he enthusiastically embraced for the remainder of his life. He retired from JC Penney’s in 2004 after 31 years with the company.

Pete had many loves. He was a lifelong lover of all thing’s baseball. He loved the Expos. He knew all the stats. He was a part of a fantasy baseball group, keeping meticulous records and talking stats with anyone who would listen. He loved bridge and had a regular game and was known to be a very good bridge player. He loved his friends. The number of friends he had paled in comparison to the quality of those friendships. He had lifelong friends and those that just felt like that. Pete mindfully tended those friendships, consciously creating opportunities for friends to be together whether it was lunch or a simple get-together for pizza and wine. And most importantly, he was there for his friends in their times of need. His loyalty was unmatched.

But his greatest love was for his “bride” as he referred to her to his last days. Mary Calarco was a pretty girl in a bar in Manhattan that he saw from across the room. They talked for much of the night. She left the bar and entered the subway and there he was, following her to ask her to meet him again that next Friday. They did and have been inseparable ever since. They married on September 12, 1981, in a beautiful and festive ceremony at Saint Malachy’s Catholic Church in Manhattan. Their marriage and their deep devotion to each other has been nothing short of inspirational for friends and family alike. They were and are each other’s world. Theirs was a deep, enduring, eternal love and it was clear in the smallest of ways–the way they looked at each other, the way they seemed to always be holding hands. They had a beautiful life together. A true blessing from God.

If anything, even came close to rivalling Pete’s love for his wife, it was his faith. Raised in a large devout Catholic family (Irish and French Canadian) in Northern New York, his devotion to his faith was instilled early and remained an enormous part of his life. Peter served his church in multiple and significant ways. At St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, he, along with Mary, served for many years as Eucharistic Ministers, eventually serving as coordinators of the ministry, providing instruction and guidance. They shared the beauty of their own marriage with others in the parish by their involvement in the Marriage Preparation (FOCUS) program. They were both so very proud of the young couples entering a faithful commitment to marriage as if they were their own children. They expanded their gift by their later involvement in Marriage Encounter, where he shared his values on love and commitment. More recently, they became deeply involved in the Serra Club which seeks to promote vocations for priesthood and religious life, a cause deeply important to them. Pete, with his strong, powerful voice also served as a lector for the church.

As hardworking as Pete was, he knew how to have a good time and looked for ways to get the most out of life. He loved the performing arts. In his younger days, he was involved with various dramatic ventures, even playing Alais and Henry II in a production of “Lion in Winter” at the age of 28. For years he and Mary attended numerous plays on Broadway–they even saw “Les Misérables” 19 times!

And of course, their travels. They loved to take cruises to fabulous places in the world–Italy, South America, Alaska–often renewing their wedding vows. When they weren’t on a ship around the world, they were in their car driving all the way to the east coast–New York, Virginia, North Carolina, etc.–to visit family and friends. Always a welcome visit.

In addition to his parents, Peter was predeceased by his brother, John Bradley “Jack” LaFave and three sisters, Joelle Ann LaFave, Katherine LaFave Brennan, Mary Frances LaFave. He is survived by his wife, Mary Calarco LaFave, of Plano and eleven nieces and nephews from around the country.

Pete was greatly loved, and he loved greatly. Whatever his role–son, brother, husband, uncle, friend, co-worker, teammate, neighbor–he was all in. He loved you and he would do anything–anything–for you. He lived a good life, and he has left the world a better place. He had a GREAT hug. A big, warm, safe hug. When he left this world, a big, warm, safe hug awaited him. He earned it.

Pete is where he should be. He continues to watch over his “bride” and waits until they can share a loveseat and hold hands.

There will be a celebration mass of Pete’s life at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. There will be a reception to follow the mass.

Pete will be laid to rest at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church columbarium.

Thank you for your love and friendship. In lieu of flowers, Mary requests donations to the Serra Club of Dallas https://www.serradallas.org/