Laura K. Marcantonio

Laura was born on December 8, 1969 in Chicago, Illinois to Lou Montiel and Patricia Browning. She grew up in Orland Park. She married Jim Marcantonio on October 30, 1999 and together they shared 26 years of marriage. Together they raised Amanda, Stephanie, Steven, Rocco, AJ, and Dominic. They enjoyed going camping, and taking their kids on amazing adventures at theme parks, from the Wisconsin Dells to Disney World. They hosted many unforgettable events for friends and family from lip sync battles to Halloween and Christmas parties.

Laura is remembered for opening her and Jim’s home to many family and friends. She had a true love for family functions; birthdays, holidays, or any gathering. She would always make sure everything was prepared down to the last details. Whoever's birthday it was, she would

make sure they had their favorite meal accompanied by their favorite dessert. She welcomed anyone who needed a seat for holidays. If someone needed a warm place to rest she always made sure there was room in her home and a hot meal. Her kindness and generosity showed no bounds, and it reflects on Jim and her children everyday. She loved to garden, her children have spent many Mothers Days together arranging her garden to make sure everything was planted just right for her. She would share her vegetables with friends and family as well as any zucchini bread she would make using the zucchinis she grew herself. She volunteered for seniors, she had a natural gift for sales- she loved talking with people and building relationships and it showed throughout her career, she loved to spend many Sundays with her family watching the Bears games. Grandma, Grandma, Grandma, loved her grandkids, she would have countless sleepovers with them, and would take Biase one day a week to have quality time when he was an infant. She would like to be remembered for her unwavering compassion, and being a dependable anchor through rough times. She was a positive influence who encouraged others to grow.

Laura was a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, and aunt. Love you more.

Laura is survived by:

Spouse: Jim Marcantonio

Children: Amanda Slusher [Brice Slusher], Stephanie Esquivel [Junior Esquivel] Steven Straka

[Dana Straka] Rocco Marcantonio, AJ Marcantonio, and Dominic Marcantonio.

Grandchildren: Biase Straka, Aarron Slusher, Antonina Straka.

Parents: Lou Montiel and Pat Browning.

Siblings: Sarah Montiel DeJesus [Ariel DeJesus]

Nephew and Niece: Ari DeJesus, Jules DeJesus

Extended Family: Vikki Irvin, Jack Irvin, Adam (Hank) Hanysz.

She was preceded in death by:

Rita Marcantonio

Irene M. Butler

Thomas Marcantonio

Wanda Dobry

Visitation will be held at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 7750 West Cermak Road, Forest Park, IL 60130, US, on September 22, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and again on September 23, 2026, from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm.

A Chapel Service will take place at Woodlawn Funeral Home, 7750 West Cermak Road, Forest Park, IL 60130, US, on September 23, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.

Burial will follow at Woodlawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park, 7750 Cermak Rd, Forest Park, IL 60130, US, on September 23, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm.