Laura M. Zeronsky

Laura Mary (Mello) Kratko Zeronsky, 95, of Middleboro, passed away on February 1, 2018 at Nemasket Healthcare after a brief illness. She was the wife of the late Walter A. Zeronsky. Laura was born in Middleboro on June 24, 1922, the 15th child of John and Maryann (Botelho) Mello. In 1923, half the family returned to the Azores with her coming back to Middleboro in 1939. She is survived by her daughter and son in law, Laurene and Paul Gerrior of Rochester, two grand children Christopher and his wife Jennifer of Rochester and Julie and her husband David Pemble of Kalispell, Mont., two great-grandchildren, Geneva Gerrior and Hap Pemble, three step-children and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by seven siblings and spouses: Pauline Mello, Kay (Tony) Miguel, Francis (Sophie) Mello, Gloria (Henry) Morrison, Tony Mello, Joseph (Sophie) Mello, and Marie (Manny ) Pavo. Laura began working at 16 at The Plymouth Shoe Company where she worked her way up to being their sample stitcher. She made shoes for all the salesmen, shows and any presentation shoes that the company gave to politicians, such as John, Bobby and Ted Kennedy, sports figures and celebrities. When that shop, closed she moved to Frank Noone Shoes in Taunton where again she made sample shoes including The Golden Bear golf line and personally made all the signature golf shoes for Jack Nicklaus till her retirement in 1985. Laura along with her Wally, enjoyed her home, cooking wonderful Azorean and Croatian foods in her tiny kitchen, her garden, Siamese cats from Oolong to Binky, hand crafts and her family and friends. She was active in the VFW Post 2188 serving as President of the Auxiliary, and running hundreds of whist parties at the post and the VA Hospital in Brockton. She was secretary of the union at Plymouth Shoe and gave countless hours to the Sacred Heart Parish with the sodality, the Thrift Shop, as a Eucharistic minister to shut-ins and at nursing homes and hand making hundreds of baptism bibs to help families celebrate that life sacrament. She was a 30+ year breast cancer survivor. The family wishes to thank the staff at Nemasket for the care and love she received there. Visitation will be 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 6, at Ashley Funeral Home, 35 Oak Street prior to a funeral Mass at Sacred Heart Church at 11 a.m. Interment at St Marys will follow.