Laura E. (Tetreault) Blais

Laura Elise T. Blais, 85, of Woonsocket, passed away September 3, 2023 at St. Antoine Residence after a brief illness. Born in Central Falls, Laura Elise grew up in the Saylesville section of Lincoln. Laura Elise was the daughter of the late Laurent E. Tetreault and Elise (Moran) Tetreault Gagnon.

Laura Elise was a long-time resident of North Smithfield, moving to Woonsocket later in her life.

Laura Elise was a 1960 graduate of the URI College of Nursing, earning her Baccalaureate degree followed by becoming a Registered Nurse. This journey continued as Laura Elise became a School Nurse in the Lincoln School Department. Never one to rest on her laurels, Laura Elise continued her education and became a Certified Addictions Registered Nurse. This designation allowed Laura Elise to work at Fuller Hospital in South Attleboro, MA in the detox unit where she was an addictions counselor. Laura Elise helped many people with the skills she learned as an addiction counselor as well as a mentor to younger nurses starting their careers. She was a caring and generous woman whose faith allowed her to live one day at a time helping others. Laura Elise loved learning and put that love to work doing nursing research at Harvard University. After Laura Elise retired from her nursing career, she continued to work part time at her local pharmacy as a cashier.

Laura Elise was a gifted pianist and one of her greatest pleasures was playing her baby grand piano. She could sit for hours and play beautiful music to soothe herself and please her friends and family. She was also an avid and talented gardener which yielded amazing gardens at her North Smithfield home. One could often see Laura Elise outside with her beautiful gardening hat and gloves working the soil. Laura Elise loved her pets, Mitzi, her dog and Red, her pony. During her stay at St. Antoine, one of the staff brought in her pet husky which brought a joyful smile to Laura Elise who just loved animals. Knitting, crocheting, sewing and reading were hobbies that Laura Elise enjoyed. Laura Elise often mentioned that she learned to drive using the truck that her father used for delivering ice he harvested from the pond they lived on. He was the "ice man." Even as Laura Elise declined in health, she was grateful for the help she received, purchasing a magazine subscription for a friend, sharing articles of interest and books.

Later in life, Laura Elise was blessed to have the caring friendship of her neighbors and friends: Michael and Alicja Kuciak, Michael and Paulette Ceccofiglio, John Snoek, Kristen Sayles and Judi Harmon.

In lieu of flowers please consider an act of kindness in Laura Elise's honor.

Funeral arrangements under the direction of Holt Funeral Home, 510 South Main Street, Woonsocket, RI, 02895. Funeral Mass with be held on Saturday, September 30, at St. Ambrose Church, 191 School Street, Albion, RI at 10 am with burial following at St. Francis Cemetery, 163 Smithfield Ave, Pawtucket, RI.

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