Memorial Services for Roland B. Laviolette, III

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we reach out for help so we can say our final goodbyes to our brother and son, Roland Bernard Laviolette, III. RIP Ronnie! 7/28/70-9/26/22.

Here is the story....of a young man who struggled for most of his life to live and left us way to soon: Ronnie became a bilateral amputee after a bonfire accident in 2002. He suffered 5th degree burns and gangrene set in causing his right leg to be amputated above the knee and his left leg below the knee. That day changed his life forever and was something he never truly got over. Approximately, 3 years later, he had another accident hitting a telephone pole head-on while traveling on an SUV. He suffered blood on the brain/swelling and broke his jaw into many pieces. These accidents caused so much pain, and alcohol/drug dependency.

After these accidents, Ronnie moved to Maryland to be close to his mother, Alice Grey. She helped him get affordable housing for disabled people and help with Social Services along with teaching him how to pay his bills. His work history before the bonfire accident was working with the Occupational Training Center in New Jersey picking up recyclables in all types of weather. He was happy to have work. Maryland did not have an OTC program.

Ronnie had PTSD from the accident and this made it difficult for him to find work. His prosthetics were very difficult for him to use and his left leg's stub never completely healed enough for him to wear the prosthetic for very long. He usually drove around in a motorized wheelchair which was too large for his small apartment and often broke down and battery running out of charge.

Ronnie lived off the bare minimum of SSD and had Medicare/Medical health insurances. He continued to struggled with lots of pain, health issues (including Hepatitis), mental health, and alcohol/drug dependency. Family tried to help him many, many times. He was so overcome with all the pain, stress, depression, frustration, anxiety, anger, and paranoia causing him to find it hard to accept the appropriate help.

Recently, he set a goal to get his driver's license back and seek treatment for his mental health and addiction problems. In the beginning of September, he saw his father, Roland Laviolette, Jr. and was working on signing himself into a rehab. It proved to be such a daunting task! His depression took over and he ultimately took his own life at the age of 52.

Even though he was living with never ending pain, Ronnie was very outgoing and loved to make other people laugh even at his own expense. He would give you the shirt off his back. He loved music so much and found it to give him some relief. He also was always told us how much he loved us over and over again and we did the same! ❤️

Sadly, this is the second tragic loss for the Laviolette family this year. The family is struggling financially and would appreciate any help that you can give us so we can bring Ronnie home! We could use help with the cremation/funeral expenses and possible veterinary services for his beloved cat, Scratchy, when he is able to be located. The cremation will take place in Maryland with a small church service and then we will bring him back to New Jersey so the rest of us can say goodbye and finally put him to rest. Roland Bernard Laviolette, III. 7/28/22-9/26/22. 

Thank you for any help you can give us at this time, every little bit help.

Ronnie's beloved sister, Bernadette Laviolette, and son to Roland B. Laviolette, Jr and Alice Grey.