Laura Christine Perticara

Laura Christine Perticara, of Westchester passed away peacefully on December 10, 2025; Preceded in death by parents Gregory and Bonnie (nee: Zimmerman), sister Deborah (Samuel) dear sister in law of Samuel Silverstein; precious aunt and great aunt to many nieces and nephews.

Laura's warm smile and distinctive voice had a way of lighting up every room she entered. She grew up in Elmhurst, where she developed a lifelong love of singing, knitting, art, church and spending time with her siblings. A devoted Catholic and dog lover, Laura and her family adopted their pets from shelters, reflecting her deep compassion for all living beings. Laura graduated from York High School in 2003 and went on to study Geography at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, where she graduated at the top of her class. Following college, she joined AmeriCorps and spent more than five years living and serving in Hamilton, Montana. She later moved to Minneapolis to pursue a master's degree in Agricultural Education at the University of Minnesota.

Laura dedicated her professional life to early childhood education. She began her career at New Horizon Academy in Bloomington, Minnesota, as a teacher's aide and was later promoted to lead preschool teacher. Her exceptional commitment and impact earned her the Distinguished Teaching Award from 2020 through 2024, as well as the Teacher of the Year Award in 2023.

In 2024, Laura took time away from teaching to spend several months in the Cascade Mountains of eastern Washington, seeking a deeper connection with nature. After being diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2025, she returned to the Chicago area to be with her family. She faced her illness with courage and grace, and her final months were filled with the cherished family time she so deeply loved.