Profile Image
Zilla Mae Legassie
July 08, 2025

Obituary

LACONIA ---- Zilla Mae Legassie, 73, of North Street, after a two-year courageous health struggle, passed away at home, surrounded by her loving family, on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.

Zilla was born on December 27, 1951, in Laconia, the daughter of Jonas Augustus and Ethel Frances (Vittum) Eastwood.

Zilla owned and operated Legassie’s Daycare out of her home. She often had over 15 children enrolled at the same time. Her mom Ethel would often help her take the children to the beach, movies, to the park, and many other adventures. She would do crafts with her children and teach them how to read and write. Over the years, three generations of children came through her daycare. Often there was a waiting list of parents wanting their children to experience the unconditional love and kindness Zilla showed to all the children in her care.

Family was everything to Zilla. Her family and friends were most important to her. She lived for her family. She enjoyed keeping everyone connected through family dinners, daily phone calls, and family gatherings. When she brought her family together, is when she was the happiest. Zilla embodied strength, courage, resilience, kindness, and goodness. She truly lived each day of her life with her goodness in her heart. She looked for the best in people and accepted people for where they were in life and who they were. She took the time to speak to perfect strangers; reminding us all that a simple “hello” or a small compliment could change someone’s day.

Zilla lived by the motto, “Never leave anything unsaid. Tell the people that mean the most to you how much you love them each and every day. Hold your loved ones a little tighter today, as tomorrow is not a guarantee.”
Another favorite saying of Zilla’s was, “No language can express the power, beauty, heroism and majesty of a mother’s love.”

Zilla is survived by her husband, Norman, of 55 years, a son, Christopher Legassie, and his wife, Jennifer; daughter, Zandy Dezonie and her husband, Dane; brother, Kevin Eastwood and his wife D’Anna and Eddie Eastwood, grandchildren, Zarik Legassie, Andrew Laramie and his wife Savannah and Isabel Laramie; brother-in-law, Raymond Legassie and his wife, Mary; sisters-in-law, Cindy Balint and her husband, Tom, Marcia Moore and Kathy Legassie; nephews, Jamey, Nathan, Richie, Brian and Shane; and nieces, Nina, Alex, Shannan, Kristy, Dawn and Paige. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her, father-in-law and mother-in-law Fred and Irene Legassie, aunt Mae Marshall, cousin, Samuel E. Marshall, Jr., uncle Dr. Henry Vittum, nephew, Jason Balint, great nephew, Tyler Balint, brothers-in-law, Richard, and Robert Legassie and Jerry Moore.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 from 5:00pm-700pm, in the Carriage House at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, July 17, 2025 at 10:00am at the St. Andre Bessette Parish - Sacred Heart Church, 291 Union Avenue, Laconia, NH.

Burial to follow in Bayside Cemetery, Laconia, NH.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest that memorial donations may be made in Zilla’s name to the NH Humane Society, PO Box 572, Laconia, NH 03247.

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, Laconia, NH, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com.


Content is coming soon...
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services / 603Cremations.com
164 Pleasant Street
Laconia, NH 03246
603-524-4300