Laurie Elizabeth Strome

1955 - 2020  (64 years)

• Name	Laurie Elizabeth Strome
  Born	8 May 1955
  Gender	Female
  Interesting	volunteer
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-115396
  Died	30 Jan 2020	Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I115396	Generations
  Last Modified	25 Apr 2024

  
  

  Father	Howard Strome
  Mother	Rosemary Montag,   b. 3 Jan 1933, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. 21 Apr 2009, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 76 years)
  Family ID	F39892	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Children	1. Angelique
  Last Modified	26 Apr 2024
  Family ID	F36823	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Photos

  Laurie Strome - The Record Newspaper

  
  

• Notes

  Laurie Elizabeth STROME With family by her side, Laurie passed away at the K-W Campus of Grand River Hospital on Thursday, January 30, 2020 at the age of 64. Loving mother of Angelique Strome (Chris Pettitt), cherished Gramma of Alyssa Fancey and Kyla Pettitt, Great-Gramma of Rayne, dear sister of Steve Strome, and very special aunt of Courtney Curzon. She will be missed by her nephews Ryan Strome (Monika), Kenny Curzon (Heather), and niece Candice Strome. She was beloved by her great-nieces and nephews, Caitlyn, Edward, Daimen, Laura, Aria, Ethan and Khloe Roza. Laurie was predeceased by her mother Rosemary Strome, sister Kathy Hamblin and niece Shauna Curzon. For over 33 years, she cherished her career at the University of Waterloo in Circulation Services. Community involvement was very important to Laurie. She was co-founder of the Sunnydale Community Centre and long-time president of the Sunnydale Neighbourhood Association. She volunteered her time and talents for over 20 years with the House of Friendship and over 25 years with the Girl Guides of Canada. She was a member of the Crime Prevention Council of Waterloo Region, the Waterloo Region Campaign School, and the Waterloo Safety Committee. In 2011, she was recognized by the City of Waterloo by being honoured with the Waterloo Award, the city's highest civic honour. She was also very well-known with her home community for the development and maintenance of the Sunnydale Little Libraries and volunteering whenever and wherever needed. Laurie's family will receive friends at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S., Waterloo on Thursday, February 6, 2020 from 12:30 - 1:15 p.m. A memorial service to honour and celebrate Laurie's life will follow in the Funeral Home Chapel at 1:30 p.m. with a reception in the funeral home's Fireside Room immediately following. Condolences for the family and memorial donations to the House of Friendship may be arranged by contacting the funeral home at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445. Published in Waterloo Region Record on Feb. 3, 2020 Home, E., Home, E., service, M., Home, E., & STROME, L. (2020). View Laurie STROME's Obituary on https://www.therecord.com/ and share memories. Retrieved 4 February 2020, from https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/therecord-waterloo/obituary.aspx?n=laurie-elizabeth-strome&pid=195255874&fhid=30885&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=obitsharengo&utm_content=p195255874&fbclid=IwAR1zcgItZw4iQMpJ3_O0-8AvRDHSpsf4WYxBkqksWGeTEyb1RBw5YNyTv-Q _____________ Laurie Strome tirelessly worked for the betterment of others By Valerie Hill Special to the Record The flags at Waterloo City Hall were at half-mast in January 2020; an honour reserved for those who have made significant contributions to their community. It was a well-deserved way to say goodbye to Laurie Strome, a woman who improved the lives of everyone around her. Laurie died on Jan. 30, 2020, following a series of uncontrollable seizures. She was 64 and had spent most of her adult life working for the betterment of others. "Wherever she saw a need, she was there," said daughter, Angie Strome. Laurie's list of accomplishments is staggering: co-founder of the Sunnydale Community Centre, longtime president of the neighbourhood association, 20 years with the House of Friendship, more than 25 years with Girl Guides of Canada. Laurie was also a member of the Crime Prevention Council of Waterloo Region, the Waterloo Region Campaign School and the Waterloo Safety Committee. And she helped establish the Little Library program, small wooden boxes mounted on poles installed around neighbourhoods. Take a book or leave a book. Even in her 2011 acceptance speech for the City of Waterloo's civic award, the city's highest honour, Laurie was entreating people to continue to financially support her latest fundraising effort. Rather than accepting praise, Laurie used the platform to continue with her good works. "She was very humble," Angie said. Laurie understood what it was like to be without, to struggle for the smallest of benefits. Born on May 8, 1955, in Kitchener, Laurie was one of three children. Her parents divorced when she was young and her mother, Rosemary Strome, became the sole supporter. Rosemary passed on her gifts to her daughter, including her independence and desire to share kindness with everyone. Laurie dropped out of high school and gave birth to Angie at 18, raising her as a single mother. When Rosemary's health began to fail, she moved in with Laurie, providing additional support and allowing Laurie to return to school, finishing off her high school through a program called Open Doors. "I attended her high school graduation," said Angie, remembering the day with pride. While in school, Laurie worked part time at the University of Waterloo's library. The job was made full time after graduation, and she would go on to have a three-decade career, impacting everyone around her with her good nature and quick mind. Laurie was the one everyone went to with questions. Laurie started her career in 1986, and two years later became a library clerk in the Davis Library's circulation department. By April 2000, she was promoted to library assistant and eventually became circulation services supervisor. Colleague, Sue Arruda, called her "an icon in the library," someone who was "respected for her wide-ranging knowledge and her commitment to doing all that she could to assist her patrons and her fellow staff alike." Laurie's supervisor, Sarah Martin, admired how Laurie interacted with everyone from new students to faculty with the same caring and thoughtful approach. Sarah added, "Laurie was a lifelong learner and took many opportunities to expand her professional knowledge and skills by attending training sessions offered at UW on a variety of topics." Outside of her job, Laurie engaged in all sorts of volunteer-driven activities on campus, and in 2007 the university presented her with a special recognition award. On the day of her funeral, the university lowered its flags in her honour. There is also a new bench with a dedication plaque just outside the library doors where Laurie would often sit. Colleague, Samantha Gibbon, said community was important to Laurie and she extended this caring to the university community. This devotion and loyalty also meant that Laurie continued living at the geared-to-income Sunnydale, paying full market rent. "That was her community: that was her home," said Angie. But Laurie didn't just live at Sunnydale; she fully engaged in helping everyone who lived there, particularly new Canadians. Her mother, Rosemary, was always at her side, helping. "My mom had the know-how, she networked," said Angie. "My mom was a leader in the sense she got things done." Together, Rosemary and Laurie provided a positive role model for Angie and her cousin, Courtney Curzon, who was also raised by the two women. "I was taught to be independent and for the need to take care of yourself and fulfil yourself," said Angie, adding that though there was little money in the early years, her mother was always resourceful in finding ways to engage the children. Rosemary died in 2009. Laurie's health was impacted in 2017 following a heart attack, then a lung cancer diagnosis and bladder infections. She died on Jan. 30, 2020, after a series of uncontrolled seizures. "Laurie Strome Tirelessly Worked For The Betterment Of Others". 2021. Therecord.Com. https://www.therecord.com/life/2021/10/04/laurie-strome-tirelessly-worked-for-the-betterment-of-others.html.

  
  

• Event Map

  Died - 30 Jan 2020 - Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth