Hazel Florence Laughran, 85, died at home surrounded by her loving family on May 12, 2013, Mother’s Day.
She was born Sept. 19, 1927, the youngest child, to the late Herman Benjamin Kaskin and Florence Mae Fratt. Her childhood was spent in rural Burlington where her father owned and ran a creamery business. She attended the High Street Graded School, and was a 1945 graduate of Burlington High School. There she played coronet in the marching band and was one of the first female members of the Burlington Kiwanis Band.
She married Peter Patrick Laughran Nov. 9, 1946, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Waterford. They spent their married life in Rochester celebrating their 63 wedding anniversary. Together they raised eight children, built two houses, and were active in the daily life of the village and community.
She was a caring and hard working mother who found time to be a Den Mother in her son’s various Scout Troops, a Girl Scout Leader, a crossing guard for the Rochester Graded School, helped with the Rochester Fire Auxiliary, and the Essman–Schroeder Legion Post 20 auxiliary. She was an excellent cook and baker, often serving as a room mother and baking treats for her children’s classes. She was a long time member of the Rochester Homemakers Club, which later evolved into “The Secret Dozen.” An avid reader she also loved to play music which she did by ear, collect bells, and was skilled at crochet and cross-stitch.
Survivors include her children, Kathleen (Thomas) Trimberger, Burlington, Michael (Deborah), Tequesta Fla., Mark (Anna Marie), Greendale, Patrick (Reena), Auckland, New Zealand, David (Nancy), Rochester, Mary (Gerald) Itzenheiser, Waterford, Gerald, Rochester, and Julie (William) Batchelor, Burlington; grandchildren, Nicholas (Cherie) and Gregory Trimberger, Angelina (John) Olkowski, Michael and Shannon Laughran, Jacob and Joseph Itzenheiser, Jared and Bryan Batchelor; great-grandchildren, Alexander and Gianna Olkowski; and many other relatives and friends.
She was further preceded in death by her loving husband; sister, Violet Spanske; brothers, William and Robert Kaskin.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to her doctor Katarzyna Zaremba M.D., the staff of VNA Hospice, and especially her private caregivers, Sue and Christina Sharp for their loving and compassionate care of our mother.
Visitation is Saturday, May 18, from 9-10:45 a.m., with services at 11 a.m., at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 305 S. First St., Waterford. Burial will follow in Rochester Cemetery. Mealy Funeral Home, Waterford, is serving the family.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Rochester Public Library.
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