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Lorraine Laurel Obituary

On January 1, 2024, Our Beloved daughter, sister, mother, aunt, niece and friend, "Michelle" as she was affectionately called, was summoned to be with our Lord while surrounded by her family.

She is a direct descendent of a prestigious and prominent Laredo family, whose patriarch was Captain Samuel Mathias Jarvis, who was a mayor and County Judge in the mid 1800s. She was a legacy member of the society of Martha Washington and a debutante.

After a brief teaching career, Michelle practiced law for 27 years and was a dedicated attorney who devoted over twenty years of government service while working as a public defender, a state prosecutor and most recently having retired as a county attorney where she vigorously protected the rights of children.

By far, her favorite responsibility was being "Mommy" to her precious daughter Athena Lorraine. She showered Athena with love and affection and spending quality time with Athena is what brought her the most joy in life.

Michelle was also completely devoted to her family. She always enjoyed, and eagerly anticipated, family time whether it was Thanksgiving celebration, Christmas gift exchange, a trip to the family beach house, a visit to the Laurel ranch, a birthday dinner or a simple gathering at her parent's house. Amongst family is where she was the happiest.

She had a passion for reading and was admired for her speed reading ability. She was known for being able to read an entire book in an afternoon. And obviously she was everyone's lifeline when it came to movie or literature trivia. Michelle also had a dry sense of humor that everyone appreciated and enjoyed, unless it was at your expense. She was the best aunt to her nieces and nephews and she spoiled them rotten. Her gift was the first one each of them would open on Christmas Eve.

Michelle was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents Dan and Theresa Withoff, by her paternal grandparents Aida and Fernando D. Laurel, by her brother Fernando D. Laurel, III, and by her brother-in-law Robert J. Ford.

She is survived by her beloved daughter, Athena, by her devoted parents, Lorraine and Fernando Laurel, Jr., her sisters Sandra Laurel Ford (Robert +) Kristina Laurel Hale (Judge Oscar J. Hale, Jr) sister-in-law Patricia Cremo (Fernie +) Laurel, nieces and nephews, Andy (Amanda) Laurel, Lexie Hale, Jordann Paris Hale, Jarvis Ford, Zach Ford, Ashleigh Laurel (José) Lastra, Torree Laurel, Uncle Daniel Withoff (Jane), cousins Erika, Stephanie, Heidi Withoff Goertzen (Leslie) and Dominique Withoff and many other relatives and friends.

Michelle, we love you so much and we will miss you dearly!

Private services were held by the family on January 4, 2024, and a memorial mass in her honor will be announced in the near future.

Funeral arrangements are by Fred Dickey Funeral & Cremation Services, 1320 Trey Dr., Laredo, Texas 78041 (956) 723-3611. For your convenience, you may leave your condolences to the family online at www.freddickey.com

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

Published by Laredo Morning Times on Jan. 7, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
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2 Entries

Athena Laurel Lorraine

January 10, 2024

She was the best Mom I ever had :C

Maribel Sauceda-Salazar

January 5, 2024

Klarissa and I will miss you dearly. Thank you for always giving us so much love and for always inviting us over for weekend breakfast, doggie Halloween parties, movie night and spending quality time with our beautiful princess. I will miss your phone calls and text messages. Love you my dear friend

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To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

Funeral services provided by:

Fred Dickey Funeral & Cremation Service

1320 Trey Dr, Laredo, TX 78041

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