Alma Elizabeth Laur

Alma Elizabeth Laur was born in Detroit, Michigan on August 24, 1924, and passed from this earth on June 19, 2012 in Orlando, Florida.  Alma met the love of her life as a USO hostess during WWII while Richard was training in aircraft maintenance in Detroit.  They married after the war and traveled the country with the Air Force stationed in Oklahoma, Texas, Alaska, Georgia and Maine.  They raised 5 sons and 2 daughters in a religious and loving home.  After moving so often, Alma wanted a home base for the children before they left home.  so, after retiring from the military in 1966, they settled in Orlando where Alma's parents had retired in 1950.

Alma efficiently managed her large family and was very  active in the children's scouting, volunteering in school clinics and lunchrooms, and participating in activities at the neighborhood recreation park.  she planned family vacations so everyone could re-energize and enjoy and adventure.  She always made sure the family had everything they needed.

In 1975, when Richard's job with the USDA was to take them to  Mexico, he and Alma went to Virginia to study Spanish and protocol for six months.  With two children still at home, they moved to Mexico for four years and then to Washington, D.C. for a year to finish the project.  They still kept the home in Orlando knowing it would be their retirement home.  It's the home all 20 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren know as "Nana and Grandpa's".  Richard and Alma traveled after his final retirement in their RV, on many cruises and by car seeing sights they hadn't before and revisiting others.  Alma would tell about the trip by restaurants and Richard by the roads they had traveled.

Alma was a positive person.  her quick response when troubles arose was to "offer it up", knowing that the power of prayer was the answer to any problem.  Her grace and loving spirit made a lasting impression on all who met her.  she touched many just by being herself, with a smile and her quick wit even in the last months while being in the last months while being in the hospital or nursing home and up until the night before her death.  She loved her family deeply and they all have comfort in that knowledge.  She came home and faced the end of her life here on earth with no regrets or fears and with her strong faith to guide her on her journey.  Richard an other family members witnessed as she went peacefully to the Lord. 

Alma and Ricahrd would have celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary on July 27th.  Alma is survived by her loving husband, Richard J. Laur; son Richard J. Laur II and his wife, Carol; son Steven A. Laur and his wife, Michele; son David W. Laur and his wife, Sue; son Michael T. Laur; daughter Mary Ann Paulus an dher husband Mike; son Robert J. laur and his wife Cindy; and daughter Carolyn Marie Iannone.  Alma will be missed by her grandchildren Christie Laur, Catharine Freeman, Steven P. Laur and wife Lisa, Verity Brechtel and husband Stefan, Felicity Vasek and husband Michael, Stefanie Stern and husband Elliott, Elizabeth Laur, Brittany Laur, Adrienne Iannone, Amber Laur, Michael C. Laur, Marie Laur, Robert J. Laur, Christopher Laur, Alexandra Iannone, Andrew Iannone, Hunter Laur, Micaela Laur, Analiese Iannone and Chase Laur.  Alma was blessed with great grandchildren Sebastian Freeman, Philomena Freeman, Bernadette Freeman, Adelaide Freeman, Levi Vasek, Owen Laur, Samuel Laur, Lucas Vasek, and Foster Stern and Baby Brechtel who is on the way.  Alma is survived by her sisters Elsie Park and Delores Faller and brother-in-law, Don Faller.

The family will be receiving friends from 6:30 - 8:30 pm at St. Andrew Catholic Church on Thursday, June 21, 2012.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 am at St. Andrew Catholic Church on Friday, June 22, 2012 followed by interment at Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery.