Laura Jackson

1967 - 2021

Laura Anne (Sani) Jackson, 53, of Eugene, Oregon, went to be with her Lord on Sunday, August 15, 2021. She passed away at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at Riverbend, Springfield, Oregon.

Laura was born to Lois Klages and Robert Eich in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on September 15, 1967. Her adoptive parents were Ruta Mara Sani and Giacomo Sani. Over the course of her life, she lived in Michigan, Ohio, Italy, the Virgin Islands, Maine and Oregon. She attended Oregon Episcopal School in Portland, received her Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies at the University of Oregon and her Master of Library Science at Emporia State University. She worked as a librarian at Beaverton City Library, Hillsboro Public Library, as a children's librarian at Ledding Library of Milwaukie, and was also a volunteer at Eugene Public Library.

Laura married Gregory Pashak in 1989. They have two children: Jeremy Pashak, 28, and Julia Pashak, 16. Laura loved her children dearly and was so proud of them. Laura married Ricky Jackson in 2019.

Laura was an avid bicyclist and ran track in high school. She loved learning and was able to speak four languages. She enjoyed visiting Washington Park in Portland, and especially loved the Japanese Garden and the Rose Garden. Laura also enjoyed staying at Mara's beach house at Cascade Head many times over the years.

Her adoptive parents, her stepfather Jeffrey Zucker, and her grandfather the Rev. Cecil Klages preceded her in death. Survivors include her children, Jeremy Pashak and Julia Pashak of Beaverton, Oregon; her husband, Rick Jackson; her half-sister, Giulia Dotti Sani of Milan, Italy; her stepmother, Marina Dotti of Milan, Italy; her grandmother, Clara (Cecil) Klages of Grand Haven, Michigan; her parents, Robert and Lois Eich of Grand Haven, Michigan; her siblings: Karen (Timothy) Fonkert of Ladson, South Carolina, Jennifer (Amy Schill) Eich of Berea, Kentucky, Paula (John) Zokoe of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Theodore Eich of Spring Lake, Michigan, and Jarrod (Andrea) Eich of Norman, Oklahoma; six nieces and nephews: Taea Fonkert, Kaliana Fonkert, Alyssa (Cody) Antonini, Alli Zokoe, Harper Eich and Asher Eich; and many aunts and uncles and cousins. Having never been told she was adopted at birth, she found out in June 2019 as a result of Ancestry DNA when she was contacted by her biological parents. Over the course of the next two years, Laura was able to meet her biological family and all enjoyed getting to know each other before her untimely death.

The memorial service for Laura was held at one of her favorite places, the Rhododendron Garden in Hendricks Park, Eugene, Oregon, on Saturday, August 21, 2021, at 11 a.m. with Pastor Bob Weinberger officiating.