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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JULY 2022 15 butterflies. My garden is even a designated monarch waystation. butterflies. My garden is even a designated monarch waystation. That's all because of Laurie. She was also deeply intuitive and caring. That's all because of Laurie. She was also deeply intuitive and caring. During a pandemic Zoom meeting, she sensed a sadness in me and During a pandemic Zoom meeting, she sensed a sadness in me and reached out after the meeting. My family had just suffered a terrible reached out after the meeting. My family had just suffered a terrible tragedy and she let me cry on her socially-distanced shoulder that tragedy and she let me cry on her socially-distanced shoulder that day. She called often afterward to check in, offering her friendship day. She called often afterward to check in, offering her friendship as the comforting soft space I needed to heal. In our six-year as the comforting soft space I needed to heal. In our six-year working relationship, I watched her lead with skill and humility, working relationship, I watched her lead with skill and humility, always ready to listen and learn. In our friendship, she celebrated always ready to listen and learn. In our friendship, she celebrated my personal life victories and offered advice when things were my personal life victories and offered advice when things were difficult. I hope I gave her as much comfort, support, and difficult. I hope I gave her as much comfort, support, and happiness as she did me. I truly miss her and will forever say, happiness as she did me. I truly miss her and will forever say, 'Hi, Laurie,' every time I see a monarch." 'Hi, Laurie,' every time I see a monarch." Kris Corbet, former Kris Corbet, former Breeze Breeze editor, said, "I will miss and always editor, said, "I will miss and always remember Laurie for her keen sense of humor and, though she remember Laurie for her keen sense of humor and, though she could present a tough exterior, for the empath she was." could present a tough exterior, for the empath she was." Cindy Graves stated, "I loved Laurie's humor, her candor and her Cindy Graves stated, "I loved Laurie's humor, her candor and her ability to read people to best use their skills and talents for the good of ability to read people to best use their skills and talents for the good of the group." the group." That was Laurie in a nutshell. She gave her all to everything she did. She That was Laurie in a nutshell. She gave her all to everything she did. She became deeply invested in her work, her friends and her family. became deeply invested in her work, her friends and her family. Who was Laurie? She was many things to many people: a wife, a parent, a daughter, Who was Laurie? She was many things to many people: a wife, a parent, a daughter, a sister, a friend. Laurie was a nurturing soul; not only did she help raise and nurture her two a sister, a friend. Laurie was a nurturing soul; not only did she help raise and nurture her two step-children Karen and Stewart from her marriage to Gary Snelson; she also provided a home and step-children Karen and Stewart from her marriage to Gary Snelson; she also provided a home and stable environment for her nephew, Lonnie, and her nieces, Debbie and Hilary. Laurie was the rock of her stable environment for her nephew, Lonnie, and her nieces, Debbie and Hilary. Laurie was the rock of her family providing both emotional and financial support. family providing both emotional and financial support. Her professional career reflected her love of and concern for others. She started her career in Social Services at Her professional career reflected her love of and concern for others. She started her career in Social Services at Children's Hospital. She then worked at the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles for many years before moving to private Children's Hospital. She then worked at the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles for many years before moving to private housing management. After several years of working for and rising to top management, she decided to return to school to get a housing management. After several years of working for and rising to top management, she decided to return to school to get a Marriage and Family Therapist degree from Phillips University. She lived with and cared for her aging mother while she attended the Marriage and Family Therapist degree from Phillips University. She lived with and cared for her aging mother while she attended the university. She worked for several years as a therapist. university. She worked for several years as a therapist. Mel Zeldin, Laurie's husband at the time of her passing, met her in the Bereavement group, which he joined after the loss of his wife. Mel Zeldin, Laurie's husband at the time of her passing, met her in the Bereavement group, which he joined after the loss of his wife. He stated that, "Laurie had amazing leadership talents and compassion for those struggling with the loss of a loved one, and she helped He stated that, "Laurie had amazing leadership talents and compassion for those struggling with the loss of a loved one, and she helped me immensely, as I'm sure she did to others in the group. About the time I was ready to leave the group, I asked her if she would be me immensely, as I'm sure she did to others in the group. About the time I was ready to leave the group, I asked her if she would be interested in having dinner with me, and although she said she wasn't dating, she agreed to have dinner at Panera's. interested in having dinner with me, and although she said she wasn't dating, she agreed to have dinner at Panera's. "This was now December 2018, and she was going to a New Year's Eve party with her friend and her friend's husband, and she invited "This was now December 2018, and she was going to a New Year's Eve party with her friend and her friend's husband, and she invited me to attend with her. We had a great time, and so we decided to go many places (of her liking) together in the following months, such me to attend with her. We had a great time, and so we decided to go many places (of her liking) together in the following months, such as the museums in Los Angeles and the opera in Palm Springs. I learned quickly of her love of nature, both the beautiful flowers and all as the museums in Los Angeles and the opera in Palm Springs. I learned quickly of her love of nature, both the beautiful flowers and all the animals. the animals. "I recall one incident where a spider was crawling along the kitchen floor. I was ready to stomp on it, and she grabbed me and pushed "I recall one incident where a spider was crawling along the kitchen floor. I was ready to stomp on it, and she grabbed me and pushed me back. She told me she did not kill living creatures of any kind, and she grabbed a piece of paper and had the spider crawl onto me back. She told me she did not kill living creatures of any kind, and she grabbed a piece of paper and had the spider crawl onto it, and she took the paper outside and released it in her garden. In the three plus years I have known her, the only time she accepted it, and she took the paper outside and released it in her garden. In the three plus years I have known her, the only time she accepted extermination of a bug was when we had an ant infestation in the kitchen and laundry room, and so a pest extermination company was extermination of a bug was when we had an ant infestation in the kitchen and laundry room, and so a pest extermination company was called in to spray the inside and outside of the house. called in to spray the inside and outside of the house. "One of the places we both liked to go to was Oak Glen, and the walking trails there. We went many times, and she so enjoyed being "One of the places we both liked to go to was Oak Glen, and the walking trails there. We went many times, and she so enjoyed being out in the beauty of nature. out in the beauty of nature. "We did marry in March 2020, just before the County offices closed down. "We did marry in March 2020, just before the County offices closed down. "Laurie had two cats, Spenser and Jezzie. She so loved them both. Regrettably, Jezzie developed an autoimmune disease which "Laurie had two cats, Spenser and Jezzie. She so loved them both. Regrettably, Jezzie developed an autoimmune disease which ultimately led to her being euthanized earlier this year. Spenser, who was always subservient to Jezzie, sought more affection after Jezzie ultimately led to her being euthanized earlier this year. Spenser, who was always subservient to Jezzie, sought more affection after Jezzie was gone, and Laurie gave that to him. Every evening, when Laurie was already in medical decline, she would sit in a chair in the living was gone, and Laurie gave that to him. Every evening, when Laurie was already in medical decline, she would sit in a chair in the living room. Spenser would climb up on the back of the chair and nuzzle his head on top of Laurie's head, back and forth as a show of love. room. Spenser would climb up on the back of the chair and nuzzle his head on top of Laurie's head, back and forth as a show of love. Laurie would reach up and stroke Spenser affectionately. That amazing bond was so evident. Laurie would reach up and stroke Spenser affectionately. That amazing bond was so evident. "That is who Laurie was. She will be missed by so many." "That is who Laurie was. She will be missed by so many."