Pamela Jeanne Chapdelaine

Pamela Jeanne Chapdelaine, 78, of Rockford, passed away on Sunday, May 19, 2024.

Pam was born in Newport, RI on April 8, 1946, daughter of Col. George and Helen (Fitton) Mearns. She married Roland J. Chapdelaine on August 24, 1968, at St. Joseph Church in Springfield, Massachusetts. After graduating from high school, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Rhode Island College then completed her master’s degree from Loyola University, while a working mother of two young children.

Pam believed her purpose in life was being a mother, grandmother and teacher. Her lifelong career as a special education teacher was devoted towards giving equal rights and high-quality educational opportunities towards an improved quality of life for all special needs children. By the time she retired from 35 years of teaching she had realized her dream of working within an inclusive Kindergarten classroom environment, where no child was separated. Upon retirement, she volunteered much of her time reading to children at libraries. She provided love and compassion during her volunteer time with hospice care both in Los Angeles and in Rockford. Pam enjoyed spending her time collecting, reading, spoiling her cats, shopping, watching soap operas and playing online scrabble with her sisters. Most of all, she cherished the time spent with her family and loved ones, especially her dear children and grandchildren.

Pam will be dearly missed by her husband, Roland “Chip” Joseph Chapdelaine; children, Eric Roland (Margaret) Chapdelaine and Denise Elizabeth (Craig) Nichols; grandchildren, Mckena Therese Nichols and Cadan Jacob Nichols, Ellis Roland Chapdelaine; sisters, Jerilyn Mearns (Steve Zienowicz) and Barbara “Bunny” Sanders; nieces, Jesse and Bailey and her beloved cat, Smokey. She is predeceased by her parents and sister, Laurel (Mackie) Burcham.

A Celebration of Pam’s life is being planned for a future date.

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