Obituary: Gail Eleanor Lamarche

This obituary was submitted by Mrs. Lamarche's family.

Third generation San Francisco native Gail Eleanor Lamarche, mother of Anne-Marie Lamarche of Piedmont, lost her battle with cancer at Stanford Hospital on September 11, 2012. She was 79.

Mrs. Lamarche was the daughter of Walter H. and Eleanor M. Nieland. Born August 18, 1933, she graduated from Lowell High School in 1951 and was a member of Stanford University's Class of 1955. She met her future husband, French native Yves Lamarche, while working for a summer at a Carmel Valley resort.  They were married on September 11, 1954 at St. Ann's Chapel in Palo Alto. 

The couple settled for a time in Park Merced and then Novato, where they raised three daughters. In 1963, Yves Lamarche became an American citizen and the family was transferred by his employer, Bank of America, to Buenos Aires, Argentina. From Buenos Aires the Lamarches moved to Paris, Panama, back to Paris, and then to London, where Mrs. Lamarche continued to live after the couple divorced in 1979. In London, she became an antiques dealer, known for selling and refurbishing antique scientific and nautical instruments.

In 1990, Mrs. Lamarche returned to the Bay Area after her 27-year overseas adventure to be near her elderly parents, daughters and grandchildren.  She moved to Alameda in 2000, where she applied her antique dealer and home staging expertise as she moved, raised and rehabbed an Edwardian home.  A true Luddite, Gail was dubious of technology and preferred face-to-face dealings over email or the postal system. She presented herself in person each month to pay her bills, making many friends along the way. She loved her Alameda garden, and took great pleasure in eradicating any weeds that dared to grow there. Gail also looked forward each summer to sojourns in the Sierras with her daughters, grandchildren and dear friends.

Gail Lamarche is survived by her daughters, Anne-Marie Lamarche of Piedmont, Michèle Lamarche of Santa Monica, and Danièle Lamarche of London. She also leaves behind her brother Kirk Nieland of Lake Oswego, OR, and grandchildren Elise Menke of Boston, Claire Menke of Palo Alto, Alexander Menke of San Francisco, and Theodore Lamarche of London.

On September 30th, a memorial for Gail was held in the north London home of poet Keats, after which her ashes were spread on the Hampstead Heath. A Piedmont celebration of her life is planned for October 28th. Details are available by email to anne.marie.lamarche@gmail.com.

Donations in memory of Gail Lamarche to a non-profit of your choice would be much appreciated.  Mrs. Lamarche held in special regard the research of Dr. George Fisher of the Stanford Cancer Institute (http://cancer.stanford.edu/help/gift.html - Online Giving/"Other Cancer Designations", enter "Dr. George Fisher/Colorectal Cancer Research in memory of Gail Lamarche") as well as The Stanford Fund for Undergraduate Education (giving.stanford.edu) and Lowell Alumni Association (www.lowellalumni.org/donate.)