Alice Ruth Lauria Pasquarella

Alice Ruth Lauria Pasquarella died peacefully at home on April 23, 2013 surrounded by her family. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 and lived life to the fullest with the disease, passing away from complications at the age of 61. Alice was born in Huron, South Dakota in 1952, the fourth of seven children. She grew up in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, graduating from Robbinsdale High School in 1969. Alice studied psychology and graduated from Hamline University in 1973 and earned her Masters in Education at Ohio University in 1980. She went on to work in publishing and teach elementary school in both the US and Germany, where she met her husband Michael, an officer in the US Army. The two were married in 1977 and had four daughters. Over the next thirty years, Alice traveled the world with her family, living everywhere from Hawaii to Italy before finally settling in San Antonio in 2000. Alice was highly active both in her children's activity organizations and local disability advocacy groups. Alice will be remembered for her amazing strength, quick wit and unwavering spirit. She loved stories, both written and spoken, and was known for her ability to listen, council and understand. Alice remained optimistic and active throughout her six years of rigorous cancer treatment, refusing to put life on hold regardless of the prognosis. She had a passion for learning and exploring, traveling and taking classes until shortly before her death. She was preceded in death by her parents, Victor and Ruth Lauria; and brother, Gary Lauria. Alice was a devoted wife to Michael and excellent mother to Anna, Rosa, Cristina and Julia. She is also survived by her siblings, Daniel Lauria, Vicki Hansen, Jane Rasmussen, Karen Zimmerman, and Robert Lauria and their spouses, as well as several nieces, nephews and grand-relatives. CELEBRATION OF LIFE MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013 11:00 A.M. HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC CHURCH 20523 HUEBNER ROAD In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Down Syndrome Association of South Texas (http://www.dsasa.org/support-us/make-a-donation) and the DIVA program (http://thrivewell.org/diva/).