Philip James LaPlante of Rochester, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 7, at Edenbrook of Rochester.

Philip was born July 7, 1953 in Rochester, to Paul and Alice Rose (Hawkins) LaPlante. He grew up in Rochester and attended St Francis Elementary and Lourdes High School and graduated from Rochester Community College in 1974.

Philip loved genealogy, storytelling, and reading. Remember library cards? Philip wore his out on a regular basis. His special joy was spending time with family, visiting friends, and following everyone's activities. He worked as an X-ray processing technician, an orderly, and a driver for Mayo and Rochester Transportation Service over the years; in these roles, he shepherded many patients to their appointments and would use his own time to assist out-of-town patients and families with pharmacy and grocery runs.

Philip is survived by his brother, Michael (Christine) LaPlante of Rochester, sister, Paulita LaPlante of Inver Grove Heights, nieces Carly (Mitch) Haugen and Monica LaPlante, nephews Kerry (Avery) O'Neill and Joe (Corrine) LaPlante, and several grandnephews/nieces. He is preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Alice Rose and his brother-in-law, Colin O'Neill.

The memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 13, 2024 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, in Rochester with Rev. James Berning officiating.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Chatfield, MN.

Memorials may be made to Mayo Clinic Hospice https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/hospice/sections/volunteering-and-donating/gnc-20481749 and to National Alliance of Mental Illness Minnesota www.namimn.org

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com