Laura Nelson Gouaux, age 62, of Richmond, died on August 25, 2012 of breast cancer. She was born in Manitoba, Canada to George A. Nelson and Martha E. Nelson on August 26, 1949.

She is survived by her three children, Matthew Gouaux, Susan LaPlaca, and Ben Gouaux, three grandchildren Carter and Colin Gouaux and Samuel LaPlaca, sister Julie Nelson, daughter-in-law Joanne Gouaux and son-in-law Samuel LaPlaca, three nieces Sarah Groves, Emily Abraham, and Anne Triest, nephew Patrick Triest, great-nephew Micah Groves, great-niece Alyssa Groves, and many dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and three of her siblings Ronald and Daniel Nelson, and Elizabeth Woods.

She grew up in San Diego, and attended college in Minnesota, California, and Florida. After receiving a BSN from Florida State University in 1976, she worked as a Registered Nurse in hospitals in Florida, Manteca, and Jackson. She lived in Manteca and Valley Springs before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area, where she was a member of Berkeley Covenant Church. In her last years, she enjoyed quilting, pottery, camping, reading, and the company of her loyal beagle, Annie.

A memorial service will be held at 7 pm Thursday, August 30, at Skates on the Bay, 100 Seawall Dr., Berkeley, CA with a reception following. Contributions in her memory may be made to the California State Parks Foundation or the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network.

Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin

Wednesday, August 29, 2012