Laura Ahern

1924 - 2018

Born in Oakland on September 9, 1924, Laura Jardin spent her early years living in the San Juaquin Delta area with her parents, Manuel and Maria, sister, Mary and two brothers, Manuel and Frank Jardin.  She attended a rural one-room schoolhouse for primary school and graduated from Lodi Union High School in 1942.   
Extraordinary for her time, Laura moved to Stockton to start her working career after high school where she met and married Harold Ahern in 1943 in the heart of World War II.  Harold and Laura had  two daughters, Maureen (Sansevero) and Deborah (Ahern) and lived for the whole of their married life in Lodi.  Laura was a Human Resources Professional at Stokely Van-Camp, which later became Pacific Coast Producers.  Laura eventually became the Payroll and Personnel Director before retiring after 30+ years of service.   
Laura and Harry were devoted members of the St. Anne's Catholic Church community.  Their retirement years were spent traveling extensively throughout Europe, South America, Canada and the UK, tending their garden, and spending time with their multi-generational family.  
 Laura is survived by two daughters, Maureen Sansevero of Lafayette and Deborah Ahern of Oahu, Hawaii.  Harold proceeded Laura in death in 2008.  They had a lifelong love of Hawaii and for many years, enjoyed spending the Winter months there with their three grandchildren (Shannon, Ryan, and Vanessa) and three great grandchildren (Jardin, Latham and Tristan).
 Laura had moved to the East Bay Area eight years ago to be closer to family and died peacefully on January 8th surrounded by that grateful family at the age of 93. 
 A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Anne's Catholic Church at 11am on January 16, 2018 with a private internment next to Harry.  Condolences should be sent to Cherokee Funeral Home 831 Industrial Way, Lodi, 95240.