1947
Laura Frances Puzio
2023
Laura Frances Puzio
January 18, 1947 — March 6, 2023
Spring Hill
LAURA FRANCES WALLER-PUZIO was born on January 18, 1947 to Edward and Elizabeth Waller in Passaic, New Jersey.
From an early age, Laura's disposition was gentle, reserved and soft spoken. Her love of family was profound, especially the love between her brothers and sisters.
She would often take care of her siblings in a Motherly role taking on many tasks to make sure all of her brothers and sisters were cared for in her own kind, loving, caring and compassionate way.
At night, Laura would read to her brothers and sisters and sing to them with her beautiful, angelic voice to calm and comfort them as they drifted off to sleep.
Laura graduated from Hawthorne High School and went on to pursue a modeling career at the Barbizon Modeling and Acting Studio in New York City.
She met her husband to be, Stanley Puzio, on September 3, 1969 after being introduced by Stanley's cousin Maryanne who worked with Laura at Curtis Wright in Hasbrook Heights, New Jersey.
Stanley first took both Laura and Maryanne out to lunch at an Italian restaurant where he and Laura began their fifty three year journey together.
Laura and Stanley enjoyed going to concerts at William Paterson College, driving throughout New Jersey and New York State at all hours of the night sometimes not returning home until 5:00 in the morning.
They were married on September 24, 1972 at St. Anthony's Church in Hawthorne, New Jersey. Stanley wanted it known that this was the best day of his life.
Laura welcomed her first child, Jonathan Matthew, on March 30, 1974 and her second child, Melissa Ann, on November 19, 1975.
She devoted her whole life to her children and provided them with precise guidance and unconditional love throughout her entire life. In addition, she taught her children to always love and care for everyone.
She filled their lives with kindness, compassion, patience, and as a devout Catholic, taught them to always be strong in their Faith in God and Jesus.
Laura also had an incredible passion for music which led to her picking up a six string guitar she began playing in 1974.
She quickly realized that a beautiful, God given gift had been bestowed upon her as she learned to play the guitar by ear without ever reading a musical note.
Laura then began writing her own songs and was blessed with yet another divine gift of writing as the words flowed from her amazing, creative mind.
After being inspired by Gordon Lightfoot, her husband Stanley purchased her a beautiful Ibanez 12-string acoustic guitar which she used to continue to compose her own music for the many songs she had written.
As she pursued her music career, she began playing at numerous venues in multiple states including the Old Dominion Folk Festival in Norfolk, Virginia.
She also performed at the Sussex County Fair, the Marathon House for the mentally ill, Sloan Kettering and Covenant House in New York City where children and teens are rescued from broken homes, trafficking and homelessness. Additionally, she made multiple appearances on the Tom Sullivan Show which was a television show on the V Channel 35 in Clifton, New Jersey.
Laura played at schools, art festivals, community events, and so many other places where she was invited to share her amazing music and her beautiful voice and she absolutely loved being able to perform wherever the music took her.
Laura also played for her children every night singing with that same angelic voice to calm and comfort them to sleep. To this day, her children are still in awe at their Mother's beautiful gift of music and lyrics that they are able to listen to on cassettes and CDs.
Laura moved with her family to Florida in August of 1986 and continued performing at many events. Her family went to every performance they could to support her and hear her play.
As the years went by, Laura became ill having already been diagnosed with Systemic Lupus and Diabetes. She pushed so hard through those illnesses to care for her family every single day. Never complaining once about her condition. Instead, she would offer all suffering up to God.
Sadly, her condition worsened but she fought through to take care of her own Mother for the better part of 10 years after her Father's passing. She dedicated herself to provide 24 hour in home care for her Mother. This selfless act created an unbreakable bond between she and her Mother. Moreover, it brought Laura's children so much closer to their Grandmother and to their Mother as they were able to spend so much time together.
After losing her Mother, Laura moved back home in 2020 and unfortunately, her health took a severe turn for the worse.
She could no longer play the guitar as her hands grew weak and the pain became too much.
As her health continued to decline, she could no longer walk and became bed ridden. Her children were always at her side when she needed anything and they took the best care of her as possible.
Laura developed osteomyelitis in both legs, charcot foot in both feet and unimaginable wounds on different parts of her body from an infection she acquired from one of many hospital stays.
The degree of unrelenting, debilitating pain was incomprehensible, but Laura never complained or took her pain out on anyone. Instead, she handled it with Grace and continued to offer all pain and suffering up to God.
Laura was rushed to the hospital for the last time on January 27th due to her sugar level dropping to 23.
Her children quickly arrived at the Emergency Room in complete shock as they learned their mother lost her ability to speak. The ER staff tried to balance her sugar levels which kept plummeting even after receiving straight sugar through her IV over and over again.
After Laura was stabilized, her Daughter Melissa immediately took FMLA leave from her job and stayed with her Mother at the hospital 24 hours a day and her Son and Husband visited every day.
Laura's sister Cyndi made multiple trips to Florida to be with her sister and her family and shared in the pain, suffering and fear felt by all because Laura could not speak as she began to slowly shut down.
Her family tried everything medically possible and Laura fought so hard sustaining life. Every minute of every day her family was able to be at her bedside was considered precious time together.
On March 6, 2023 at approximately 10:15 pm, Laura was called Home and sadly passed away with her whole family at her side.
Laura will be dearly missed by all and she will remain in the hearts of her family, friends and people who had the opportunity to meet her as she was always so kind to anyone and everyone she had met throughout her life.
Laura is survived by her Husband of 50 years, Stanley Puzio, her Son Jonathan, her Daughter, Melissa, her Granddaughter, Jordyn Burns, her Sister, Janet Waller-Woudenberg, her Brother Edward Waller, her Sister Cynthia Waller-Brooks, her Brother Timothy Waller, numerous Cousins including Joyce Ann Nielsen, Aunts, Uncles, Nieces, Nephews and Other Family and Friends.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Laura Frances Puzio, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Monday, March 20, 2023
2:00 - 6:00 pm (Eastern time)
Pinecrest Funeral Chapel & Cremation Service
Mass
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
9:30 - 10:30 am (Eastern time)
St Theresa Catholic Church
Interment
Tuesday, March 21, 2023
11:30am - 12:30 pm (Eastern time)
Florida National Cemetery
Guestbook
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