Dr. Elmer Francis Laffey

Dr. Elmer Francis Laffey, 93, of Cochranville, PA, passed away at his home on Tuesday. June 15, 2021.  He was the husband of the late Florence Johnson Laffey, 2018, with whom he shared over 70 years of marriage.  Born in West Chester, PA, Elmer was the son of the late George J. and Ann Moulder Laffey.

Born on a farm in West Chester, Pennsylvania, on November 7, 1927,

Elmer ultimately traded in dairy farm life to become a veterinarian. After graduating from Unionville High School, he married, started a family, and worked his farm in West Grove, PA. Later, he sold the farm and applied to college with 4 children and a very supportive wife. He attended Michigan State, and later the University of Pennsylvania where he received a Veterinarian Medicine Doctor degree in 1966. At the time of graduation, he had 5 children, his oldest graduating high school that same year. Elmer then embarked on a 30 year career of treating large animals throughout Southern Chester and Lancaster counties. Upon his retirement in 1996, he took up many hobbies including traveling with his wife, reading, gardening, wine and cane making, and being an active community member of Saint Malachi’s church in Cochranville. The community of St Malachi was an extended family to both he and his wife Florence.

Elmer is survived by his children; Robert M., husband of Martha, of Unionville, John F., husband of Linda S., of Unionville, Deborah L., wife of John Gallagher, of Lancaster, and Diane L., wife of Karim Rouine, of Philadelphia.

In addition, Elmer is survived by 15 grandchildren: Elise Dorr-Dorynek, Gabriel Arkles, and Jeffery Arkles (children of Linda), Elizabeth Laffey and Robert Laffey, Jr. (children of Robert), Amy Cregar, Kelly Barnes, Tara Pellini, Laura Kerezsi, Thomas Laffey and Katlyn Lloyd (children of John), Jeremy Elder and Emily Elder (children of Deborah) and Aliya Rouine and Amina Rouine (children of Diane).

Elmer is also survived by 26 great-grandchildren; Amelia, Juliet, and Sophia (children of Jeffrey), Antoine Rahim (son of Elise Dorr-Dorynek),  Ryenn, Wesley, Timothy, and Josephine (children of Robert Laffey Jr), Audrey, Justin, Bethany, and Madeline (children of Amy Cregar), Braydon, Emily, and Kyle (children of Kelly Barnes). Lucas, Teagan, Kelsey, Evan (children of Tara Pellini), Louis, Ryder, Nolan, and Whitney (children of Laura Kerezsi) Henry (child of Thomas Laffey) Avery, and Mason (children of Katlyn Lloyd).

Elmer has two siblings, Norman L. Laffey of Cochranville and Lydia Leo of West Chester and was preceded in death by a daughter, Linda L. Arkles, and siblings, Anne Young, Jean Mackey, George L. Laffey, and John M. Laffey.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, June 19, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Malachi Church, 76 St. Malachi Road, Cochranville, PA with a viewing at the church from 8:30 a.m. until the time of service.  Interment will follow in the adjoining cemetery.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Octorara Food Cupboard, 714 W. Main St. Parkesburg, PA, 19365.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Wilde Funeral Home of Parkesburg, PA. Online condolences can be posted at www.wildefuneralhome.com