As a 7 year old, she was encouraged by her father to study languages, attending the German school in Madrid during WWII.  At 16, she went to Switzerland in the pursuit of mastering French and later to London to learn English.   At 18 she began studying nursing in Madrid. She secured her first job as a secretary for the principal of a school for U.S. Air Force dependents in Madrid. There in 1958, she met and married Lauren Klein, a civilian photographer for the U.S Air Force.  A year after the birth of her first child in 1959 (Maite), they were off to California USA, crossing the Atlantic Ocean by ship and continental U.S by train. And she did it 4 months pregnant with toddler in tow! Then in 1961 along came Pablo.

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In March 1965, her husband, in pursuit of his P.h.D., was given the opportunity to work on a project for the Peace Corp in remote Bolivia. Laura, with her nursing degree and translation skills, assisted on the project.  She grabbed her 6 year old daughter and 4 year old son, and after a series of vaccinations, moved to San Miguel, Bolivia. In October 1965, the project completed, they moved back to Southern California.

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In 1967, after several moves, the family settled in Whittier, California.  By 1973, Laura and children had moved back to Madrid, Spain.  She secured employment in her field of choice and began to work for the U.S. Embassy as a translator, processing Cuban immigrants on their way to the United States and often translating for dignitaries.  These included Dr. Henry Kissinger, Vice President Nelson Rockefeller and President Gerald Ford.  She was called on to help find a king size bed for President Ford, because Spain did not have king size beds in those days.  She was successful in that endeavor!

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Laura remained in Madrid until 1976, just shortly after the death of the 40 year Spanish Dictator, Francisco Franco.  She returned to Whittier and began to work for the Rowland Unified School District as Chief Translator, until retirement 17 years later.  During this time, Maite and Pablo had both graduated college.  Maite was north in Santa Rosa, California and Pablo was south in San Diego.  Mama, as she was affectionately called by her kids, visited them both despite having to travel in opposite directions.  In 1992, the distances became even greater as Laura attended her son’s wedding in Australia.  In the following 12 years, she made 3 lengthy trips “down under”. 

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For the last eight years, after her diagnosis of breast cancer, she lived between Santa Rosa, California, Portland, Oregon and Spain (Madrid and Valencia). Cancer couldn’t stop her!  She continued her annual trips “back home”.  In fact she owned two properties in Spain; her childhood home of over 80 years in the Madrid neighborhood of El Viso and her “getaway” beach house in Gandia, Valencia.

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Whether she was in her condo relaxing, socializing in Santa Rosa or catching up with family in Spain, she was happy. She’d spend countless hours on the beach looking for the perfect seashell or sitting around the table with family enjoying long, lazy lunches. She embraced living in all of her residences, traveling back and forth tirelessly because she enjoyed them so much.

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Laura was a lover of life and she knew how to pursue her passions.  She loved to travel.  She started at a very young age under extremely adverse conditions.  Despite the hardships of being a youth throughout the Spanish Civil War and WWII, she began traveling abroad on her own as a teenager.

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Nothing made her bitter or resentful.  Quite the contrary, she took pleasure in the smallest of details, embracing each and every day with almost child-like fascination and joy.  Laura didn’t live in fear of the unknown.  She sought new adventures and experiences with a pioneer like spirit.  They enriched her.  She traveled without hesitation, jumping at any opportunity.  Laura, at 85 years of age and facing major health issues, went back to Spain for 6 weeks.  She didn’t skip a beat.  She wanted to see everyone, walk all over Madrid, eat everything she could and savor each moment.

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She loved her kids unconditionally.  Laura’s number one sense of pride was her two children.  She was always there for them and never wavered, gladly taking on the dual role of both mother and father.  She would sacrifice all for their well-being.  Regardless of her small stature, she was strong, tenacious and very protective of her kids.

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Despite her inexperience or lack of support, she attacked difficulties and hardships head-on, keeping her sorrows and disappointments to herself.  She only wanted to share her happiness, love and kindness with others.  Laura loved all creatures great and small, rescuing an abandoned plant or greeting every dog she passed. She once attempted to save a wasp from drowning in the family pool but only once!  She was actively involved with Habitat for Humanity, the Sierra Club and Breast Cancer Research.  She loved to pick up seashells on the beach, press leaves in the pages of most of her books or just smell the roses.  She always made the time to enjoy nature.  She loved the arts…museums, movies, music, dance, photography, literature and was willing to try anything, at least once.  Laura was very refined culturally and quite worldly in her outlook.  She loved to learn, whether taking a college course or reading a new book.  She believed that you were never too old to learn and was very open- minded and humble, never dismissing others.  Laura loved to take on new endeavors - knitting, trying new recipes, struggling with new technologies or enrolling in a memoir-writing course.  It made no difference. She was keen to try new things with an insatiable curiosity.

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She was well loved by many, but was more interested in loving those who were dear to her, managing to foster and maintain many life-long friendships.  She was in it for the long-haul.  It’s no wonder Laura has so many wonderful relationships around the world.  She loved to exercise, running track as a youngster, even taking up skiing in her twenties.  Laura was an avid walker her whole life, having walked on 4 continents.  In 2002, at age 68, she accomplished one of her life long goals - earning her credentials for walking the Camino (St James Way) to Santiago de Compostela.

Her strong Catholic faith accompanied her throughout life.  Despite her religious beliefs, she preferred quietly living her life by example, rather than preaching to others.  A poster child for carpe diem (seize the day) and joie de vivre (a cheerful enjoyment of life, an exultation of spirit). She lived every day accordingly.

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Her indomitable spirit set a great example of unconditional love, loyalty, honesty, a zest for life and consideration for others.

 

“If you are depressed, you are living in the past.

If you are anxious, you are living in the future.

If you are at peace, you are living in the present.”  Lao Tzu

 

Laura understood that and, together with her faith, was at peace with herself, always living in the present.

Laura will be greatly missed by the many who loved her, but she will never ever be forgotten.

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She used to say, “When it’s my time to go bye-bye, I’ve had a great life”.

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Everything I hold dear, you instilled in me….

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