Laura Stephanio Kerr

Laura Stephanio Kerr of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Gloucester, Massachusetts, and Scottsdale, Arizona, died peacefully with her daughters Lisa and Katie, and her beloved friend and caregiver Carmen by her side on May 14, 2023. She was 88.

Passionate and dynamic in all that she did, Laura made an impact on all who knew her. She was full of life and fun, and the center of her loving family.

Laura graduated from the New England Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing, in 1956, as an IV specialist. She worked as an OR surgical recovery room nurse at Jackson Memorial Hospital, Jackson, Mississippi. She remained for life an active member of the New England Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing Alumnae Association. During Hurricane Camille in August of 1969 she worked as a registered Red Cross nurse and Salvation Army nurse. Later she was in the ambulance corps in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. She was awarded lifetime medals of honor from both the Red Cross and Salvation Army for her life of dedication.

Laura was a true lover of the arts and was committed to the arts for her whole life. She was an active charter member of the Laurel Arts League. She embraced her artistic family of origin and encouraged her family to pursue the arts. Full of energy and confidence, Laura was always a member of community events and often ran the show! She was a proud member of the Junior Auxiliary. She was honored to be nominated in the publication, Outstanding Young Women of America, in 1971.

Laura maintained beautiful gardens and flower beds, and enjoyed her lifelong involvement with local garden clubs. She was very proud of her years of study and of earning the highest level of Master and Instructor of Japanese Ikebana Flower arrangement.

Laura was a great cook who loved to entertain and she was always the life of the party. She and Tom were very active. They traveled extensively vacationing and visiting friends and family all over the world.

The common thread among Laura’s endless activities during her life was a deep, uncompromising love for her children and, later, her grandchildren. When opportunities didn’t exist for her kids she created them. When not dragging them around to swim meets, sporting events, and Gulf Coast beaches, Laura and John loaded their kids in the station wagon and drove them to Jackson, Mississippi or New Orleans, to experience live theater, eat raw oysters at the world’s best restaurants and walk down Bourbon Street, enjoy big time sports and gain exposure to life. Every summer they drove the long three-day drive to Gloucester, Massachusetts to spend a month or two swimming in the ocean and quarries, playing on the rocks and having the time of their lives with all of their cousins and Laura’s large and loving family. When it came time for her children and grandchildren to be educated, she spared no expense and found no sacrifice too great to provide the best education available.

She was predeceased by her sisters Mary Ann Mangan, Dinah Gorrell, first husband, John M. McRae, Jr., son Chip McRae, and step-son Tommy Kerr.

Laura is survived by her husband, Thomas R. Kerr; sisters, Ellie Fleet and Carol Babson; daughters Lisa McRae (Howard) and Katie Crenshaw (John), daughter-in-law Sandy McRae, step-children, John Kerr (Victoria), Janice Kerr, Scott Kerr (Teena), Karin Kerr (Michael); grandchildren, Brennan, Adam, John Murrell IV, Austin, Sophie, John Walker, and Kathryn; step-grandchildren Jessica, Erik, Amy, Max, Kyle and Ryan, as well as great-grandchildren, Jane, June, Winona, Toby, Jordan, and Ari, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Wherever Laura was, the flowers bloomed, birds congregated, and animals appeared at her door. Her caregivers fondly nicknamed her Snow White.

To remember her, she'd ask that you look at the flowers, listen to the birds and take care of the nature and beauty around you.

A memorial service will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1123 Washington Street, Gloucester, Massachusetts, on Friday, July 14th, at 10:00 a.m., followed by interment at Seaside Cemetery in Lanesville. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend.

If you wish to contribute to an organization in her name, she would be delighted if you chose the volunteer organization, Generous Gardeners of Gloucester, Massachusetts. Donations may be mailed or sent online in honor of Laura Stephanio Kerr to:

Generous Gardeners

101 Western Ave, Suite 1

Gloucester, MA 01930

https://generousgardeners.org