Rodney L. Lamotte

Rodney Lee Lamotte, 89, of East St. Johnsbury, VT, was called to heaven on December 21, 2025 at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. He passed peacefully with family surrounding him following complications from a heart attack.

Rod was born on July 16, 1936, in Lancaster, NH to Louis & Mildred (McGoff) Lamotte. He graduated from Lancaster High School before entering the United States Air Force, where he served for four years before joining the National Guard. He married Marcella Pond, the love of his life, on Oct. 18, 1958, at St. Leo’s Catholic Church in Lunenburg, VT. After getting married they moved to Battle Creek, MI where they started their family with the birth of their son Mitchell. After serving in the military, they returned to the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont where more children followed, their family grew, and they shared the remainder of their 58 years together.

Rod was a man of many talents and spent most of his career as an owner of multiple businesses, most notably Rod’s Used Cars & Service Center in East St. Johnsbury for over 50 years. In addition to his automotive business, he and Marcella ran a bed & breakfast, several business ventures, and owned several rental properties in the area. He became a pillar of the East St. Johnsbury community by serving for many years as a Selectman in St. Johnsbury and Kirby and by helping his neighbors.

Family was always most important to Rod. Having grandchildren next door meant that he was “Grandpa’s Taxi”. He built a Ford Festiva with two front ends with his son, Tracy, that they would drive at local parades. Most of his time with family was enjoyed with birthdays and holidays spent together, outdoor activities with BBQs, and he also enjoyed bonfires with neighbors. In his later years, Rod also cherished his friendships, especially his rides with Francis Smith.

At around the age of 30, Rod acquired his childhood home in Guildhall, VT. For the early days it was referred to as “up on the hill” and later “camp.” It was “on the hill” where many family memories were made. And it was the place where Rod and his family and close friends would gather for R&R on the weekends. Every Saturday, as soon as Rod closed up the garage at noon he’d head for camp, and Marcella and the kids would soon follow. In the evening, Rod would often don his white flagman outfit and head to Riverside Speedway at Groveton. Sunday mornings would find Rod in the kitchen cooking bacon and eggs before heading to Sunday Mass at St. Leo’s in Lunenburg. It was Sunday afternoons that the real adventures began. Those afternoons seemed suspended in time, leaving behind the bustle of the world. Those were some of Rod’s most peaceful and happy times.

In the early spring, Rod and his best buddy Freddy would “sugar” up on the hill. Using snow machines to collect sap from the bucket and boiling on the old wood stove in the kitchen using custom made square stainless steel boiling pans. During spring and summer, Rod would pack the kids into his pickup and go for a ride on the class four roads along the hill. He was most happy when they got stuck and had to spend hours getting unstuck. In the winter he’d often lead Marcella and the kids in a snowmobile adventure starting from home in East St. Johnsbury all the way to camp where they’d warm up by the wood stove and cook hot dogs before going home. No matter the season or what was going on in his life, being “on the hill” with his family is where Rod created his most cherished memories.

Rod is survived by his children Mitchell (Kathy) Lamotte, Tina (Chris) Hahr, Tracy (Anita) Lamotte, and Nicole Wilson Silver (Robert Silver); grandchildren Matthew, Josh, John, and Tim Lamotte; Naomi, Adrian, Jonah, Brianna, Anders, Mary, Dominic, Rose, Isaac, Elise, & Daniel Hahr; Aaron Lamotte; Brennan Silver, Hailey, Madison, Owen, & Nathan Wilson, and Robert’s daughters Kaelynn, Hannah, and Aliceah Silver; as well as many great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters Rachel Nason, and Ruby Lauber. He was predeceased by his parents Louis & Mildred Lamotte; his beloved wife Marcella; brothers Phil, Daniel and Louis Lamotte, and his sisters Anna Fain and Mary Peavey.

Friends may call on the family on January 2, 2026, from 4-6pm at Sayles Funeral Home, 525 Summer Street, St. Johnsbury, VT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on January 3, 2026, 10am, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in St. Johnsbury, with Rev. Lance W. Harlow as celebrant. Burial will be held in the spring at Grove Cemetery, East St. Johnsbury, VT, at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, charitable donations can be made to Good Shepherd Catholic School’s tuition assistance program.

Memories and condolences can be shared with the family at caledonialifeservices.com.