ForeverMissed
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This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Lauren Clemons 58 years old , born on June 6, 1960 and passed away on August 31, 2018. We will remember her forever.

Beloved wife and mother of our miracle son Jason. An avid Boston Red Sox and Miami Dolphins fan. She went to many Boston home games, including the one where Coco Crisp crawled out from under a bench clearing pile of players. Attended as a season ticket holder in Miami for two seasons cheering them on with myself, an avid New England Patriots fan.

I knew Laurie when we were kids in grammar school and was introduced to her in 1980 by my friend Wayne Brown, who was dating her best friend Lynn. She was attending Salve Regina University in Newport, RI working on her Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice. We had many good times in Newport including seeing the Americas Cup Race, Christmas in Newport, and many of Salve's parties, some that were given in the Mansions of Newport. 

She worked in the Region 16 School District as a kindergarten aid, special ed aid at Laurel Ledge and as a substitute teacher at Long River Middle School. She also taught Quilting and Scrapbooking classes for Adult Ed because she was very craft savvy. She touched many of the students lives in school, especially her special ed child who learned a lot from her. The middle school classes she taught got to respect her because she pulled no punches when it came to discipline. All she had to do was ask them to settle down and wait, and they did, with very few exceptions. She was well respected by teachers, and students alike.

We visited many international destinations either on vacation or with my work at Sikorsky Aircraft, including the Paris Air Show in 1999 and taking in many famous places, including The Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Holocaust Museum, found by accident behind the Cathedral, The Omaha Beach Memorial Cemetery, Sacre Cour, Versailles, and many other memorable sites in France.

Visiting friends in Australia for two weeks in 1988 taking in many sites in Sydney, Canberra, and the Worlds Fair in Brisbane. Australia was an awe inspiring place to visit. The Sydney Opera House with its many acoustic theaters where you could her a pin drop on the stage all the way in the back of the theater. Holding a Koala Bear in a zoo in Brisbane  And waking up to  snow in August, which is their Winter. Upon leaving Australia we crossed the dateline and lived the same day twice, once in Australia and then again in Hawaii. When we returned we found out she was pregnant with Jason, who we call our miracle child because of complications during his birth. 

A 12 day cruise from Hawaii to Tahiti for our 20th anniversary. Visited 5 of the Hawaiian islands, Christmas Island on Easter Sunday, Bora Bora, Moorea, and Tahiti. It was a relaxing 12 days of fun and sun and all of the pampering we could need or want.There are many other adventures taken that are too many to mention, but we had the time of our lives while traveling the US and Canada also, enjoying every minute of it. But as life goes, it was fun while it lasted.

Everything came to a halt when Laurie first got sick in March 2015 and was not able to get around anymore. I was her chief cook and maid, giving her sponge baths and attending to her needs as best as I could while working at Home Depot part time and then full time. We would occasionally take walks around the neighborhood using her scooter and Archer just to get her out of the house and into some fresh air, even if it was hot and muggy at times. It made her feel better just to get out of the house. Her last illness was sudden and unexpected and she passed quietly with friends nearby.

She was the love of my life and I will miss her dearly. 


June 7, 2021
June 7, 2021
Happy 61st Birthday Laurie. Miss you terribly. Just want to tell you that you will be a Grandma with a grandson on Oct 8, 2021, and a Step-Grandma of 2 boys and a girl when Jason and Ashleigh-Jo get married soon after.
August 31, 2020
August 31, 2020
It has been 2 years since Laurie’s passing and I am writing this from the heart. Laurie has been my rock thru thick and thin for 37 years. We met thru friends from Beacon Falls while she was away at college in Newport, RI at Salve Regina. Our first “date” was at Clark Cooke House, which she always wanted to go to. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed the ambiance.
I spent many a weekend in Newport afterwards and have many good memories. Going to some of the mansions, eating at Nicholas Pizza, Clark Cooke House, and many other great Newport restaurants and hotels over the two years while she was at college and beyond. I met a lot of her classmates and had some great times with them.
We were married for 35 years before her passing and traveled to many places together. Some work related while I worked at Sikorsky and others on vacations together. One of the many trips we went on was a 12-day cruise from Hawaii to Papeete, Tahiti for our 20th anniversary. We travelled to five of the Hawaiian Islands then to Christmas Island on Easter Sunday then Bora Bora, Morea and on to Papeete. It was an amazing anniversary present that Laurie did not know about until Christmas 2002.
One of our goals was to travel the US in a Class C camper, when I retired, to see the US as our final journey together. Sadly, Laurie will miss this trip together in person, but she will be with me in spirit when I embark on our final journey in 2022. I have seen many parts of the US when my family went on trips to Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Mt Rushmore, and the St Louis Arch when I was a teenager. But there are many parts of the US that we wanted to see together.
Laurie is missed by both Jason and myself. We talk of her often when he comes to visit every couple of months. Jason and his girlfriend Holly have visited a couple of times in the last eight months. We all went to Disney at Christmas last year and to Hollywood Studios this last week to ride the Rise of the Resistance. We ate at the Brown Derby Restaurant for the first time and had a great time and the food was delicious.
This is getting long and all I wanted to do is say hello to my wife of 35 years and hope she is with all of her friends and relatives, including her mom and dad, brother Jerry, and Archer, who sadly left us at Christmas last year, which was Laurie’s favorite holiday.
Have a wonderful time Laurie and keep a light on for me when it is my turn to join you in the afterlife.
ILY with all my heart.
November 26, 2018
November 26, 2018
To the sweetest most loving person if have known. I’m sorry I can’t be there, but you know how much your loved. How much your missed, how you made a difference in the years I have had the pleasure of knowing you. I pray you are finally at peace. I will never forget you darling friend... Fly, Sore, Rest Easy.
November 25, 2018
November 25, 2018
Laurie, you were an important part of our family. Loved sitting around the table with you and all the rest of the crew....it's been a long time since those crazy family gatherings and the Clemons clan just isn't the same without you. Miss you very much...
Hugs Jay,
Eileen <3
September 7, 2018
September 7, 2018
In 1994, I finally had some time to explore my family genealogy. I called my aunt Ella to start with her branch of the family. She quickly told me to contact my cousin Laurie. She stated that Laurie had done extensive work on the family tree previously. She gave me Laurie's phone number and I made the call. Although we only lived two towns apart growing up, we never really connected. Laurie was 3 years younger than me. Well, connect we did. Laurie told me that just the day before she had been cleaning out a closet and picked up the family genealogy to throw it away. For whatever reason, she didn't. We soon met in person at the Waterbury city hall to start digging up the family skeletons. And boy did we did and we even found skeletons. We often excitedly rushed home to tell our families what we uncovered in the archives only to be told " we already knew that!" But we continued digging and met so many new cousins, in state and out of state. We spent hours at the LDS libraries reading through old microfiche until we couldn't focus our eyes anymore and we both ended up with headaches. LAurie was instrumental in organizing the Cooper family reunion and putting together the Cooper family cookbook! I finally had met someone who was as passionate about my new hobby as I was! Laurie was talented in so many other ways that I had never even dreamt of. She showed me a table runner that she had sewn and described how she did it. She had a true creative eye and talent for crafting. With her guidance, I made my first quilted table runner and then began quilting in earnest, all with her guidance. Then came scrapbooks and so many other crafty projects. There was no end to her talent. She was always eager to teach me and share her knowledge. Laurie truly had a heart of gold. At the darkest moments of my life, she was there for me. She always listened and offfered advice, prefacing it with "Can I just tell you something?" She told me I was "her person". She was my Meredith and I was her Cristina (Grey's anatomy). The last three years have been difficult for Laurie and Jay. Her health declined and she was bedridden. I hope that I offered her as much support that she needed. I hope she has reunited with her beloved parents and brother, Gerry, whom she loved dearly. I know she is no longer in pain, but I will miss her terribly.
September 1, 2018
September 1, 2018
I first met Laurie & Jay whilst living in Australia through Marv & Louise Farrell whom Frankie & I adored. When we returned to the United States living at the Farrell home on Burton Rd until we purchased our home on Laurie Lane. 12 yrs later moving to Quail Hollow Ct just past the Clemmons. The Farrell’s the the Coopers were best friends, adding a younger generation to the Clemmons, The Gmitter’s and so on.... The years of scrapbooking & other fun times... I stopped in to visit with Laurie & The Jay’s in Port St Lucie a few times. On Thursday I sat holding Laurie’s hand talking about Stuff. It was a beautiful late afternoon evening. I asked the nurse if we can move her bed closer to the pocket doors overlooking the beautiful palm trees, listen to the birds & squirrels scurrying about. Laurie smiled and said yes pls... the warmth of the breeze made her smile her beautiful smile. I played Mediation music for us to enjoy & relax, she napped a bit, when she awoke Laurie lifted her head and said to me “What are you Eating?” I smiled and said “Sweetish Fish want some? She smiled & said Yes! So we ate Sweetish Fish together. She smiled & said you are beautiful Daisy, I'm so happy you came to see me. I Combed her hair, she asked, are they here yet, I said they’ll be here soon, she smiled napped, woke, asked again. I knew she was waiting for the most important man in her life to return, the man that selflessly took care of her for all their years together, most especially the last 3 yrs, I know because she told me all of that & more. For her best friend Pricilla to walk through the door, Sue & Ed f Archer, the huge smile & love she had for them. She talked about her handsome son how proud she was of him. We sat together knowing. I will forever keep this Beautiful Loving Caring Womem in my Heart. I’m grateful to have had her in my life. When my time comes, I hope, I’m as brave as she was. Rest In Peace Beautiful Lady!
September 1, 2018
September 1, 2018
I got to know Laurie when she began subbing at LRMS and I was the assistant principal. Laurie was a friendly person with a contagious laugh. We would spend time joking around and talking. Later she taught quilting classes for me in the adult ed program. I always enjoyed seeing Laurie in the morning and we would always tease each other! I am so sorry to hear of her passing so young. Though I never met her husband she always spoke of him with the highest regards. Her son Jason who went through LRMS when I was there was her joy! To both of you, please know I share your grief. Laurie was a special person who will not be forgotten by those who got to know her.
September 1, 2018
September 1, 2018
THE DAY GOD CALLED YOU HOME
God looked around his garden
And found an empty place,
He then looked down upon the earth
And saw your tired face.
He put his arms around you
And lifted you to rest.
God’s garden must be beautiful
He always takes the best.
He knew that you were suffering
He knew you were in pain.
He knew that you would never
Get well on earth again.
He saw the road was getting rough
And the hills were hard to climb.
So he closed your weary eyelids
And whispered, ‘Peace be Thine’.
It broke our hearts to lose you
But you didn’t go alone,
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home.
September 1, 2018
September 1, 2018
Laurie you will surely be missed. I know this is a recent memory but one that will stay with me. On Thursday Ed and I came to visit with Jay, Archer, Priscilla and Daisy. Archer was so excited to see you and love on you but a little upset that he could not kiss your face. You said "Archer now you had better just calm down" he didn't really listen much but he heard you. When I leaned over to give you a kiss for the night some of my hair fell on your face and you giggled as it tickled you. I apologized for tickling you and you giggled again. That same giggle I have heard several times before. I love you Laurie.
September 1, 2018
September 1, 2018
I’ve very sorry to hear of Laurie’s passing. She used to come to my mom’s ceramic classes in the 1990s and in the recent years we’ve kept in touch on Facebook, sharing a love of Disney and reading. I had a lot of fun sharing books with her and chatting about what we liked and didn’t like about them. As a kid, I wasn’t allowed downstairs during ceramic classes, but like lots of kids I remember always trying to find a reason to go downstairs, or try to listen to the ladies talking. I would always know Laurie was there because I could hear her fun laugh. I’m truly sorry for your loss. Rest In Peace Laurie!

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Recent Tributes
June 7, 2021
June 7, 2021
Happy 61st Birthday Laurie. Miss you terribly. Just want to tell you that you will be a Grandma with a grandson on Oct 8, 2021, and a Step-Grandma of 2 boys and a girl when Jason and Ashleigh-Jo get married soon after.
August 31, 2020
August 31, 2020
It has been 2 years since Laurie’s passing and I am writing this from the heart. Laurie has been my rock thru thick and thin for 37 years. We met thru friends from Beacon Falls while she was away at college in Newport, RI at Salve Regina. Our first “date” was at Clark Cooke House, which she always wanted to go to. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed the ambiance.
I spent many a weekend in Newport afterwards and have many good memories. Going to some of the mansions, eating at Nicholas Pizza, Clark Cooke House, and many other great Newport restaurants and hotels over the two years while she was at college and beyond. I met a lot of her classmates and had some great times with them.
We were married for 35 years before her passing and traveled to many places together. Some work related while I worked at Sikorsky and others on vacations together. One of the many trips we went on was a 12-day cruise from Hawaii to Papeete, Tahiti for our 20th anniversary. We travelled to five of the Hawaiian Islands then to Christmas Island on Easter Sunday then Bora Bora, Morea and on to Papeete. It was an amazing anniversary present that Laurie did not know about until Christmas 2002.
One of our goals was to travel the US in a Class C camper, when I retired, to see the US as our final journey together. Sadly, Laurie will miss this trip together in person, but she will be with me in spirit when I embark on our final journey in 2022. I have seen many parts of the US when my family went on trips to Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Mt Rushmore, and the St Louis Arch when I was a teenager. But there are many parts of the US that we wanted to see together.
Laurie is missed by both Jason and myself. We talk of her often when he comes to visit every couple of months. Jason and his girlfriend Holly have visited a couple of times in the last eight months. We all went to Disney at Christmas last year and to Hollywood Studios this last week to ride the Rise of the Resistance. We ate at the Brown Derby Restaurant for the first time and had a great time and the food was delicious.
This is getting long and all I wanted to do is say hello to my wife of 35 years and hope she is with all of her friends and relatives, including her mom and dad, brother Jerry, and Archer, who sadly left us at Christmas last year, which was Laurie’s favorite holiday.
Have a wonderful time Laurie and keep a light on for me when it is my turn to join you in the afterlife.
ILY with all my heart.
November 26, 2018
November 26, 2018
To the sweetest most loving person if have known. I’m sorry I can’t be there, but you know how much your loved. How much your missed, how you made a difference in the years I have had the pleasure of knowing you. I pray you are finally at peace. I will never forget you darling friend... Fly, Sore, Rest Easy.
Her Life

First Grandchild

June 7, 2022
Hi sweetheart, Just wanted to let you know about your grandson Axel, born on 10/4/2021 to Jason and Ashleigh Jo. They were married on June 4, 2022, which would have been our 39th Anniversary, in Las Vegas.

Our Honeymoon

September 2, 2018

Jack and Claire Wolflien, friends of the Cooper family and former Mayor of Beacon Falls, had a cottage on Lovell Lake in New Hampshire that they offered to us for our honeymoon. After the party on Saturday Laurie and I went to the Sheraton in Hartford for the night. When we awoke the next morning I found that I forgot my wallet at our condo (I didn't want to carry it at the wedding). I embarrassingly called my dad to pick it up and bring it to Hartford so we could pay for our room and get to NH. If I remember right he brought almost the whole family with him to embarrass us some more.

After the time spent with my family on the morning after our wedding, went drove to Lovell Lake and settled in. The cottage had a huge stone fireplace and lots of room for large gatherings. There were several bedrooms upstairs and a spiral staircase which was recently added. 

One day we decided to cook on the grill, which was on the deck overlooking the lake. This was a huge mistake because I started this just before dusk and thousands of very large mosquitoes swarmed in on me as soon as I opened the sliding door. I had to make it quick or be dinner for the thousands of B52's swarming around me. We made the best of it though and I got my lumps for cooking a little too late in the day.

Now Laurie had been to this cottage many times as a kid and she had some funny stories about her visits. The one I remember is when she would use the bathroom downstairs, which was between the kitchen and the garage. She would get a furry visitor from the garage. It was a chipmunk that would come in under the door, sit on the floor in front of her, and scold her for being in his space, and then leave. This happened just about every time she would use this bathroom. I guess he didn't like her sitting on the john. This would happen to her mother also and everyone got a kick out of this story.

Lovell Lake was a large lake with many cottages around it. There was a Pizza/Store at one end where we would buy our groceries and an occasional pizza. The lake also had several families of loons that would sing at night and sometimes during the day. Laurie loved to hear them singing and would just sit and listen to them. It was almost like being on Golden Pond, which was filmed on a lake not too far from us.

Softball

September 2, 2018

Laurie was an avid softball player on the Beacon Falls Girls Softball team. She always said her batting average was .700, which I could not prove but I'll take her word for it. I believe she played third base.

In one of her games a batter got up to the plate and hit a line drive right into her head and she went unconscious. She awoke some minutes later and wanted to know what happened. She was OK, just a little dazed. Of course it became a good laugh later on at parties and family gatherings.

Recent stories

Remembering our time together

August 31, 2019
My Dearest Laurie,

It has been one year ago as of 9:35 am that you left this earth for a better place. You are now without pain, can walk and do the things you wanted to do. You can visit your friends and relatives that have gone before and after you, like your brother Jerry, your mom and dad Alice and Harry, your favorite aunt Marie, Marv and Louise, and all of your uncles, aunts, cousins and family friends you knew over the years.

I miss you every day and more. Our first date was on Nov. 7, 1980 in Newport, RI. We ate at the Canfield House at the beginning of Cliff Walk. Spent the weekend driving around Newport with you as the tour guide showing me all of the places you partied at with you classmates. You never let me forget the date, calling it our “Anniversary” every year by asking me “Do you remember what day this is?”

We did a lot together over the 35 years, especially the trips to faraway places like Paris in 1999 when I went to the Paris Air Show for work. We spent two weeks together there and have a lot of great memories – going to the Louvre to see Mona and Venus - the two ladies of the house. Seeing Monet’s home and gardens, Sacré Coeur and having one beer, in a heavy glass 32 oz stein. Seeing Notre Dame and finding the Holocaust Museum behind it in a stone cave by accident. And just before we left, taking a trip to Normandy to see the beach and the graves of the brave men who gave their lives to free Europe.

In 1988 we went to Australia and stayed with Marv and Louise in Cronulla, outside of Sydney. Saw a lot of the East Coast of Australia from Brisbane to Canberra. We got to hold a Koala Bear at a zoo and went to the World Expo in Brisbane (Australia’s 200th Birthday), walked on top of the capital building, which was partially built underground with a grass roof in Canberra. Visited the Sydney Opera House, ate the best Chinese food ever and had dinner at Tony Roma’s across the bay from the Opera House. We left Australia @ 5:30 pm on 8-8-88 and arrived in Honolulu @ 5:30 am the same day by crossing the International Dateline. Very few people can say that they lived that day twice. When we got back to CT, we found out you were pregnant with Jason after 5 years of trying (I think it was the campout we did on the 4th of July weekend).

We had many trips in the US with and without our camper. Going to the Big E every fall, to the Annalee Gift Shop in NH, driving up Mt Washington, and traveling to Florida to visit your parents in February. For our 20th Anniversary I purchased tickets for our first cruise. A 12 day trip in the Pacific with 5 days visiting the islands of Hawaii, stopped at Christmas Island on Easter Sunday, then on to Morea, Bora Bora, and Tahiti. We had a ball.

Jason left Prime and is now driving for Taylor Trucking and comes home once a month instead of every two to three months. We have a good time together going to Disney every so often and working on cleaning the house. We just went to Hollywood Studios last week for a preview of the new Star Wars exhibit and drank Blue Milk with Rum and Green Milk with Tequila, went on the new Smugglers Run ride and looked for new pins to add to your collection. Derek is now living in Dallas and working for the same company from his home, Trish and Ed are still here in St Lucie.

I know this is getting a little long, but I really miss you. Every time I think about something we did together I get a tear in my eye. And this letter has been hard to write. I just wanted to say these things as a remembrance of our life together, the friends we know and new friends we made, and the good times we had.

Thank you for our wonderful time together for 35 years as a husband and wife and parents of our son Jason, who turned out to be a smart, thoughtful and considerate son we could be proud of.

Your loving husband Jay…ILY

A photo of the lake house for you

January 26, 2019

This was my parents' second home in Sanbornville, NH, and is now ours. It's still the same inside!

Very sorry to hear of Laurie's passing. We were Beacon Falls friends.

One more...

September 1, 2018

Jay, I imagine you recall I was married for a short time, beginning in 1984. I am not sure if you recall the after-reception party at my parents' house in Tolland? Laurie and my dad made an obscene number of cups of coffee for people who had been drinking since noon. I think they each had one.Laurie and my dad.  We have laughed over how silly that was for all these years. We were chatting on FB right before this last illness. I told her I have the offending coffeepot in my garage, I will send it to you. She knew my dad is in Hospice and is always so kind asking about him and recalling funny stories. For some reason that one stuck and we just revisited it a few weeks ago. 

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