LaVonne Marie Chimbel's Obituary
Chimbel, La Vonne, a mother, wife, daughter and human resources executive who lived life by a saying she used frequently: Joie de vivre (French for the ‘joy of living’), died suddenly Tuesday. She was 60. She worked as the vice president of HR operations for Ericsson in Plano, but she was a lot more to the countless human resource professional she mentored for more than two decades in North Texas. Starting in the early 1990s, she helped run a human resource networking group that helped laid off workers find council, and eventually jobs. As much as she loved working, she loved her family and friends more. An only child, she had two children of her own, both sons. La Vonne Marie Long was born June 3, 1949 just outside the French Quarter in New Orleans. She took pride in the revelry of her birthplace. Her parents, Lloyd and Marie, moved the family to Kansas City, Missouri when she was young. She graduated from Lee’s Summit High School before attending Northwest Missouri State University, where she earned a degree in sociology – and met her husband, Joe Chimbel. Although she initially resisted his advances, eventually she was persuaded to date her fellow Bearcat. The couple was married in 1971 when both were just 21. They began their careers in Kansas City, before eventually landing jobs in Dallas and moving to Murphy. She is survived by her husband of 38 years, Joe; sons Aaron and Austin; and her mother, Marie West. Services will be at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30 at Restland Memorial Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation in her name. Susan G. Komen for the Cure Attn: Donor Services PO Box 650309 Dallas, TX 75265-0309 Telephone: 1.877.GO.KOMEN (1.877.465.6636) Email: donorinquiry@komen.org Web: www.komen.org
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