CORNWALL — It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of Laurie Laflin Desautels, 61, on Feb. 9 after a courageous battle with cancer. She passed at home surrounded by loved ones who will continue to honor her legacy by living their lives to the fullest. The spirit of our beloved Mom, Gammy, sister, and friend, gained her angel wings in style as only she could.

Laurie was born Feb 11, 1960, in Vergennes, Vt., the daughter of Ellwood and Mary Laflin. She grew up in Vergennes, attending Ferrisburgh Elementary and graduating from VUHS in 1978 and Vermont College in 1981 with an associate degree. Throughout that time she worked at Hanson’s A&W.

She started her career as a medical assistant/office manager in the offices of Drs. Cope and Fifield, followed by Dr John Ayers office and then Champlain Valley Orthopedics. Changing careers, she was a financial services representative at Yankee Farm Credit. Throughout all of these positions she also worked on the Desautels Dairy Farm in Salisbury and Bridport.

She was president of her class at VUHS, a catechism teacher at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, served on the board at Shard Villa Residential Care Home, and was a natural caregiver to many family members and friends.

Laurie, aka “Frieda,” was an integral part of the elite Yoyo Sisterhood. She loved spending time with her grandkids, being at the ocean, gardening, knitting and sewing, shopping, camping, and many types of painting. 

Laurie is survived by her daughters Shannon Francis (Jeremy) of Vergennes and Mallory DeCoff (Matt) of Bridport; her granddaughters Rosalie and Isabella Francis; her sisters Sue Ferra of Tenant’s Harbor, Maine, Pam Larrow (Dana) of Sun City, Fla., Lisa Ecker (Steve) of Morrisville, and Kathy Hubbard (Peter) of Middlebury; brothers Randall Laflin of Sun City, Fla., and William Grant Jr. of New York City; Andre Desautels, father of her daughters; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was predeceased by her parents; her stepfather, William Grant Sr.; her sister Claudia Enloe; her brother Kenneth Laflin; and her brothers-in-law Joe Ferra and Ron Enloe.

Calling hours will be on Friday, Feb. 18, 4-7 p.m., at Brown-McClay Funeral Home in Vergennes. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Feb. 19, at 11 a.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Vergennes. A reception will be at American Legion in Middlebury, 49 Wilson Road, Middlebury, VT 05753.

To send online condolences to her family please visit www.brownmcclayfuneralhomes.com.For for those who can’t attend there will be a video of the service at the bottom of the obituary on the website. 

The family is extremely grateful for the care given to Laurie by her sister Sue and Hospice nurse Laura Dame.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to Addison County Home Health & Hospice, 254 Ethan Allen Hwy, New Haven, VT 05472, or Addison County Benefit Pull, P.O. Box 126, Vergennes, VT 05491.◊