Laurie was raised in Woodhaven in Queens, and like her mother and two of her aunts, she went into the field of nursing. She attended Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing from 1974-1978 and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, then worked at Bellevue Hospital for a number of years in the Medical Intensive Care Unit. In the 1980’s she moved to Nassau University Medical Center and worked in both the Surgical Intensive Care Unit and the Recovery Room Unit. In 1994 a life-threatening medical situation caused her to be unable to continue working, but she remained a resolute and independent person for the rest of her life. Her sense of humor, clear thinking, and feistiness will be sorely missed. May she rest in the arms of Our Lord, Who loves her even more than her family does.