In Memory of Dolores Baque LaSalle

Obituary

Dolores Baque LaSalle, 81, of New Hartford, NY passed away peacefully at home on July 25, 2021 with her husband and family by her side.

Dolores was born on October 29, 1939, in Brooklyn, NY, the daughter of Frances and Adam Baque. Her family moved to Richfield Springs in 1946 where she attended elementary school before moving to Utica in 1954. Dolores graduated from St. Francis DeSales High School in 1957.

Dolores raised her family of nine children, first on Amy Ave. in Utica before moving to her home on Oxford Road in New Hartford, where she resided for the last fifty two years. She was an active parishioner of St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in New Hartford. All her children attended St. John’s school. Dolores was involved in women’s clubs, Lenten soup suppers, and school activities; cared for altar linens and coordinated and hosted funeral lunches in the church. She also served as a secretary for the Church post retirement.

Dolores married Joseph LaSalle on July 6, 1985 and they celebrated a thirty six year union of love, care and respect. Dolores and Joe shared a full life together. They raised children, shared their Catholic faith, took pleasure in the day to day activities, and enjoyed day trips to Richfield Springs, Sylvan Beach, and Old Forge. A highlight was their trip to the Vatican in 2012 to witness the beatification of St. Marianne Cope. They loved their grandchildren dearly. Joe was steadfast in devotion to Dolores’s needs. Through care and grace, he enabled her to stay at home through her decline in health. It was a gift for Dolores to spend time in her last month of life with fellow Brooklyn Dodger fan and beloved sister Kathleen.

Dolores cherished her family as her first priority, but was also a skilled professional. She worked as a secretary at the law firm of Evans, Pirnie, and Burdick and Brian Owens accounting firm before becoming Executive Secretary for the Office of College Relations at Utica College, where she retired in 1997.

Dolores, in her youth, was once described in a local newspaper as “a pert young miss with dancing brown eyes.” She aged with grace and it shined through her devotion to her family. Proud, but not boastful, she modeled the importance of family, faith, and humility. With so many children she established an internal family buddy system where an older sibling guided a younger to always take care and support each other. Her legacy of family continues as all of her children and grandchildren regularly gather for established traditions on Christmas Eve, summer camping trips, the Grant Hill Road Race, Apple Cider Day, 4th of July, and weddings and christenings. Her open door and open hearted love carries onward.

Dolores is survived by her husband Joe, children, William Bashant, Jr. (Teresa) of Burnt Hills, Thomas Bashant (Brenda) of New Hartford, Paul Bashant (Karen) of Guilderland, Richard Bashant (Andrea) of Ballston Spa, Christine Martinelli (Daniel) of Albany, John Bashant (Cara) of Delmar, Mary Breslin (Christopher) of Alplaus, Carolyn Bashant of Scotia, and Matthew Bashant (Amy) of Clinton, twenty-eight grandchildren, one great grandchild, countless nieces and nephews, and sister, Kathleen Andrews of Mineola. Dolores was predeceased by her parents, sister Jaqueline Hinge, brothers-in-law Edward Hinge and Henry Andrews, and granddaughter, Abigail.

Dolores’s family would like to thank Hospice for their care and compassion.

The funeral will be on Thursday at 10:30 AM at St. John the Evangelist Church, New Hartford, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated. Interment will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Calling hours are on Wednesday from 4-7 at Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral and Cremation Services, 13 Oxford Rd., New Hartford.

In lieu of flowers please consider donations to the Dolores LaSalle Scholarship at Utica College or Hospice & Palliative Care of Oneida, Herkimer, and Eastern Madison Counties.