Mrs. Hazel Laughran

LAUGHRAN, Hazel Florence, 85, passed away at home surrounded by her loving family on Sunday May 12, 2013, Mother’s Day. Born on September 19, 1927, she was the loving daughter and youngest child of 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. On November 9, 1946 she was united in marriage at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Waterford to Peter Patrick Laughran of Rochester. They spent their married life in Rochester celebrating their 63 Wedding Anniversary. Together they raised 8 children, built 2 houses, and were active in the daily life of the village and community. Hazel 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, work as a crossing guard for the Rochester Graded School, helping 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. She is survived by her children; Kathleen (Thomas) Trimberger of Burlington, Michael (Deborah) of Tequesta Fl., Mark (Anna Marie) of Greendale, Patrick (Reena) of Auckland, New Zealand, David (Nancy) of Rochester, Mary (Gerald) Itzenheiser of Waterford, Gerald of Rochester and Julie (William) Batchelor of 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. Hazel was preceded in death by her loving husband Peter, her parents, sister Violet Spanske and 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. Services will be held Saturday May 18, 2013 at 11:00 AM at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 305 S. First St. Waterford, WI 53185, with a burial to follow at Rochester Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday May 18, 2013 from 9:00 AM to 10:45 AM at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Rochester Public Library. Mealy Funeral Home 225 West Main Street Waterford, WI 53185 262-534-2233