Laura Rae (Urban) Burchette, 89 years, of Hudson, Michigan, formerly of Monroe, passed away Saturday, November 11, 2023 in her home.
Born May 30, 1934 in Monroe, Laura was the daughter of the late Earl E. and Venus L. (Peters) Heck. Laura was a 1952 graduate of Monroe High School. In 1955 Laura graduated from the Toledo Hospital School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse. While in nursing school Laura was honored to be chosen, as one of a select few, to attend the Cincinnati Children's Hospital as a student nurse.
On April 21, 1956 Laura married Martin Urban at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Erie, Michigan. Sadly, he preceded her in death on April 14, 1983. On January 5, 1991 Laura married Johnnie Leon Burchette at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Monroe.
Laura began her career as an RN working at Toledo Hospital and then at the Lutheran Home. She then became the first RN to work for Monroe Public Schools where she was the individual responsible for starting the Monroe Public School Nurses. She retired from there in 1995 after 20 plus years of service.
Laura was a former member of Trinity Lutheran Church and after her marriage to Leon, became a member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church. Laura also volunteered her time for Habitat for Humanity. She enjoyed her card club with her high school friends, traveling the world, quilting, canning her strawberry jam, baking, and gardening. She was also a wonderful seamstress. Laura always wanted her yard and landscape to be impeccable, so she was always pulling weeds. She was also known to pull weeds wherever she found one. Laura enjoyed spending time at her home on Posey Lake, where all her grandchildren learned to swim and water ski. She spent winters in Fort Myers, Florida and was very active in her Sun and Fun Mobile Home Community. Laura also enjoyed having a glass of boxed chilled wine while sitting on her deck at the lake or her front porch in Florida.
Most of all she loved time spent with family. She never refused an invitation to attend her grandchildren and great grandchildren's sporting events and other activities. Two of her granddaughters played college basketball at Gannon University and Miami University where she traveled to many of their games, home and away.
Laura is survived by her beloved husband of 32 years, Leon, three loving children: Greg (Lisa) Urban of Petersburg, Lynda (Vince) Castiglione of Hudson, and Lisa (Tim) McCoy of Sylvania, OH, three loving stepchildren: Dennis (Brenda) Burchette of Oklahoma, Brian (David) Burchette of Monroe and LeAnne Wessell of Monroe, 17 cherished grandchildren, numerous treasured great grandchildren and 2 adored great great grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and first husband, Laura was preceded in death by and infant sister, a brother, Larry Heck, and a stepson, Johnnie Leon Burchette, Jr.
Visitation will be held on Friday from 1 – 7 pm at Bacarella Funeral Home, 1201 S. Telegraph Rd., Monroe, Michigan, 48161. On Saturday, November 18, 2023 she will lie in state at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 201 S. Monroe St., Monroe, MI, 48161, beginning at 10:30 am where funeral services celebrating Laura's life will be held at 11:00 am. Private interment will be held at Roselawn Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to St. Paul's United Methodist Church or Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida.