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FUNERAL HOME

Shalom Memorial Funeral Home - Arlington Heights

1700 W. Rand Road

Arlington Heights, Illinois

Laura Ashman Obituary

Laura Beth Ashman, age 42, devoted and loving daughter of Sandra and Allan Ashman; beloved sister of Dr. Jonathan (Stephanie) Ashman; adoring aunt of Alexander and Charlotte Ashman. A most remarkable business woman and generous person. Laura was a beautiful person who will be greatly missed by all. Service Friday 11:00 AM at Am Yisrael, 4 Happ Rd., Northfield, IL. Interment Shalom Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Make A Wish Foundation, 640 N. LaSalle, Suite 280, Chicago, IL 60610 and to Cosmos Education, where a scholarship in Laura's name will be established for the education of African students. For more information, please go to www.cosmoseducation.org. For information please call Shalom Memorial Funeral Home (847) 255-3520.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Chicago Tribune on Jun. 24, 2009.

Memories and Condolences
for Laura Ashman

22 Entries

Susan Harris

July 10, 2009

Dear Ashman Family,
'
Laura and I had manicures together every Thursday. Since receiving the news of Laura yesterday, I feel a whole in my heart.
She was wonderful, funny and we had a great nail friendship.

Mu Deepest Syspathy

Artemis Ventouras

July 6, 2009

Dear Ashmans. Even though I spent very little time with Laura in New York when she visited, she certainly touched my life and will always be in my heart. I will never forget her sweetness and good spirit, her smile and loving nature. As I prepare to become an Aunt for the first time, I'm inspired by the role she played in the lives of Alexander and Charlotte, as well as the legacy she leaves them. She will live on forever. With love and sympathy, Artemis (friend of Stephanie)

Mary Pellettieri

July 1, 2009

I will miss Laura immensly! her smile and laugh was infectious. And her giving sprit. She was a mentor and a friend. The family has all my sympathies.

Kathy Burke

June 29, 2009

Dear Ashmans,

Everything is reminding me of Laura. And, if it doesn't, it is because it is new and different and then I want to tell Laura. I want to tell Laura how I talked with Skip, Ted and Tomi. I miss the opportunity to hear her gush how beautiful her Charlotte and Alexander are. I wanted to let her know how wonderful all her friends were to me. I wanted to share with her what a wonderful baby brother she has, how great Larry is and what a sweet wife, and most of all cry with her over how much this hurts her Mom & Dad. It would have been like all the many phone conversations and catch up chats we have done these past many years.

And some of these conversations started with a phone tag like:

Hey Laura, it's me Kath, sorry to miss you. Talk to you soon. Love you. Bye

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Holly Schulz

June 29, 2009

Dearest Ashman Family,
My name is Holly Schulz, and I am Lauren and Lindsay's Mother. I am so saddened at the loss of your beloved Daughter, Sister, Aunt,Friend...I had the honor of knowing Laura for about the past 8 years...Lauren had stopped going to college at that time, and was back in Wilmette. I happened to drive by Ala Carte to see a "Help Wanted" sign in the window,and told my daughter to go and check it out... The rest is history as they say... Wonderful,Kind,Funny Laura took this lost 20 year old,hired her and taught her oh so many things,starting in the retail part of the store,and moving her up to catering mgr., where she spent the next few years absorbing Laura's knowledge,ethics and professionalism. They had such respect for each other. My other daughter Lindsay was also given the opportunity to work at AlaCarte thanks to Laura, and remains there today ...
I so appreciate how great she always was to my daughters, and will never forget her kind,and generous spirit.
Her service was a beautiful,loving testimonial to her life, and I know she will be missed everyday...

Ed Kevelson

June 29, 2009

I was quite shaken to hear of Laura's passing; it's hard to reconcile that news with someone who was so full of life. We knew each other at the U of R and I had not seen her in many years, but we had finally chatted recently through Facebook. Good people leave good feelings and memories behind, and the memories I have of Laura are all good: Laughter, smiling, warmth. She was genuine and I'll miss her. My deepest sympathies to her family.

Kelly O'Donnell

June 29, 2009

My Mom and Laura were best friends in Highschool..and they were still very close. She always told my mom that she was goin to meet Bono. I remember always visiting her in Chicago when she worked at her cafe and would always get me and my brother coffee cake. She would light up a room and always make my mom chinese dinner for my mom's birthday. Im going to miss her, we love you, adn we will never forget what a great person you were.

Jill Janov

June 29, 2009

Locker Room Laughs

Laura was a wonderful friend to me in high school on the swim team. She made me laugh so hard and always made me feel welcome on a team of girls that I did not know. I looked forward to swim practice every day because of her and I never walked away from her without a smile and a funny memory.

Stephanie Rogers

June 29, 2009

Dear Laura's Family,

Laura was in my advisory in high school and I always liked her a lot. She was kind to everyone and she was such a comfort to be around, so welcoming and accepting. When I saw her at A La Carte years later, she never hesitated to say hello and give me time, even when the store was bustling. She was instantly likable, lovely and light. I am very sorry for the loss of your special Laura.

Laura DiCanio Williams

June 29, 2009

I remember Laura as a neighbor and childhood friend and I was saddened and shocked to hear of her sudden passing.
My thoughts are with her family and I know she will be missed.

Jill Ashman-Sutherland

June 29, 2009

Rest in peace Laura...My deepest and most sincere condolences to the rest of the Ashman family...

Joshua Friedes

June 29, 2009

Laura’s laugh was infectious. We became friends at the University of Rochester and then as so often is the case we lost touch. Recently we started e-mailing again and I realized how much I missed her wit, intelligence but mostly her warmth and humanity. I can’t believe I’ll never hear her laugh again or have the opportunity to catch up. To Laura’s family my deepest condolences.

Michael Alessandri

June 28, 2009

I will never forget Laura - the full of life, two-toned freshman who brought joy into every room she entered. We became fast friends at the University of Rochester all those years ago. Although I was several years her senior, we clicked immediately and remained close through our college years. Sadly, like many great friends, we only kept in touch sporadically since college, but I was always comforted to know that this wonderful woman was out there in the world if I ever needed her. Sadly we missed each other on my last trip to Chicago in May, but my memories of her are strong and many, and filled with laughter and joy.

Laura - I love you and miss you. And remember TWM TMW!

Marcia Saper

June 28, 2009

We first met little Laura Beth when she was 2 years old. She was a delight then and that never changed. I cannot remember when Laura was not a part of the happiest parts of my life.

LAURA WAS SUNSHINE. Even when she was totally stressed out at A La Carte, she had time for a hug and a giggle. I won't even forget the sweet sound of that giggle.

Laura was a wonderful daughter. Sandra said 'she was always at my side'. And Allan glowed with pride over her accomplishments. Jon and Stephanie were two of her best friends.

Rest in peace lovely Laura. Now Alexander and Charlotte truly have a guardian angel.

You will always be in my heart.

June 26, 2009

My deepest sympathy and condolences to the Ashman family. I knew Laura from A La Carte and have fond memories of working with her at events, a generous spirit and her boisterous laugh. Heartfelt prayers to you all, we'll miss her too.

PJ Charron

Amy Prah

June 26, 2009

I was fortunate enough to have shared an office with Laura at A La Carte for 2 years as the Catering Manager. I will always cherish the afternoons Laura, Pam & I spent upstairs laughing and discussing our favorite TV shows, favorite celebriites, world news, her travel stories and hearing her gush about her beloved niece and nephew. She gave so generously of herself... with her time, her sense of humor and infectious laugh and her love of life. I am blessed to have known her. She will be missed forever.

George Koziol

June 25, 2009

I worked with Laura at A La Carte for five years and just had dinner with her June 10th. She left us too soon. I'll miss her.

Cathy Ivcich

June 25, 2009

I had the good fortune to meet Laura via A La Carte. With food on my top five list of must haves, I was pleasantly surprised to not only LOVE her food but love being around her. As her realtor, I got to know Laura by taking her to the coolest of properties in Chicago's top neighborhoods. It soon became apparent to me that she was much more than just a client. What I loved most was Laura bouncing into my car and the laughter that shortly ensued. Laura was wide open and quick to show you who she was. We laughed alot...about some of the properties we saw, current events, politics, and most importantly, the eateries we stopped at. Recently, Laura introduced me to a fabulous pie company in the East Village. We bought, we ate, we saw a hit and run fender bender, we bought vegetables from the back of a pickup...it was quite an adventure, but that was par for the course with Laura. I know I loved every minute of it. I hope she had as much fun as I. It really didn't matter to me if she ever found a condo to buy. We had too good of a time just laughing and running around town.
One very lovely thing she did for me occurred last fall when my mother died unexpectedly. Somehow Laura found out and called me while I was still getting things in place at my mom's in Florida. I must have gone on for a good half hour or so about my mom's demise, but Laura was all ears, just letting me talk and allowing me to find comfort in the friend at the end of the phone. I really loved her for that and knew then that she was not just a client, but a good friend.
I've thought about her all week and know I will miss her terribly, as I know her family and friends will. She was a granache ou chocolat in a world of chocolate cupcakes. I look forward to meeting her again somewhere, sometime down the road. That will be good.

June 25, 2009

We will always remember Laura as a warm loving person, and especially for providing a beautiful wedding evening for Michael and Jennie. She (like her mom) exercised only the best of tact. She gently talked Michael out of serving meat loaf at their wedding! It certainly brought some silent guffaws from his parents.

We join in your sadness and send love. Looking forward to an evening uner the stars together on August 25. Laura will always be in our thoughts. We'll hold a special place in our hearts for her.

Wayne and Susie

Charlie Henneman

June 25, 2009

It was with great shock and sadness that I received word of Laura's passing.

I remember the day I met her in 1985 at the University of Rochester, where we became close friends and shared some wonderful experiences, along with many friends we had in common. I hadn't seen her in ten years but we'd stayed in touch, and we just missed connecting in Chicago last March. I've rarely met someone so full of warmth, humor, and life, and will miss her terribly.

I am so sorry not to be able to make it to Chicago for her service but my heart will be there. I'll never forget Laura.

Tiara Moore

June 24, 2009

Please accept my sympathy for you lost. At times like this I turn to Genesis 2: 17 when I need comfort. I want share something comforting to help at this time.

Debbie Agoos

June 24, 2009

For Laura's family. There are no words for me to say to make sense of this. I met Laura 9 years ago when she called me to help her with a catered wedding and she needed an extra person. From that one party, I continued working at Ala Carte and we became friends. When the work day closed and I was coming back from an event, we would meet up to discuss the party and ended up talking for hours. We shared so many wonderful stories about work, life and her trips. She helped me when I was going through some very emotional times with a death that I was dealing with. She was loving the fact that she was moving into a new area and bouncing off some ideas of what she wanted to do with her life in the very near future. I loved Laura. She was strong willed, but a heart of gold. When we talked last week making plans for her to come over to my house for dinner.. the two minute call turned into 2 hours. It felt like we were talking for 5 minutes. I'll miss those late night calls. I miss the breakfast that turned into lunch from us talking. I'll miss when she would tell me that when anyone asked what the strangest thing that ever happened at a catering event wasand she would answer.... A dead dear in front of a house, across from a church on Christmas Eve (which she still swings her head back and laughs while saying... Oh, my g-d!!) I'll miss her laugh. I'll miss what she had planned to do with her life. I'll miss her. My deepest condolences. She loved all of you very much. As I told Laura since the day I met her.... I'm here if you need me. With love, Debbie Agoos.

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