Laura French, 61, of Belford, passed away Aug. 9, 2023.
Laura was born Oct. 16, 1961, to Lawrence M. Jankowski and Carol (Fedor) Jankowski in Bellville. As a child, she briefly lived in Lyndhurst, soon after becoming a lifelong resident of Belford.
Laura, or then nicknamed “Laurie,” graduated from Middletown High School North in 1980. It was there she met her high school sweetheart and husband of 40 years Robert (Bob) French.
After graduating high school, she worked as a travel agent and also a caterer.
Laura and Bob were married June 4, 1983. They went on to have three children, Lisa, Shannon and Patrick.
Laura was an incredible hands-on mother, class mom and baseball mom. She was also an art instructor for kids at the Middletown Arts Center for many years and an art therapy instructor for cancer patients and survivors. She enjoyed traveling, spending time with her family and being a grandmother.
She was predeceased by grandparents Frank and Della (Fedor) Hughes as well as grandparents Adam and Jennie Jankowski; in-laws Justin and Loretta (Leonard) French; brother-in-law Willam French; and sister-in-law Julie (Guzman) Jankowski.
She is survived by her loving husband and proud caregiver Bob French; daughter Lisa French-D’Alessandro (A. Corey D’Alessandro); daughter Shannon French; son Patrick French (Mandee French); beloved grandson Justin D’Alessandro; parents Larry and Carol Jankowski; brother Larry Jankowski; sister Linda Palmer (Scott Palmer); sister Jennifer Jankowski (Paige Jankowski); as well as cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Viewing services were held Aug. 16 at John F. Pflleger Funeral Home in Middletown. Funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, at Mary, Mother of God Church, 19 Cherry Tree Farm Road, Middletown.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, an organization Laura and her husband felt strongly about.
This article originally appeared in the August 17 – 23, 2023 print edition of The Two River Times.
