Laurel “Laurie” Etta LaRou

PORTLAND – Laurel “Laurie” Etta LaRou, 77, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021, at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House.

Laurie was born on June 2, 1944, in Portland, the daughter of the late Phillip R. and Henrietta (Robinson) LaRou Sr. She attended local South Portland schools and graduated from South Portland High School. Having lived her entire life in the Portland area, Laurie knew about everybody, and just about everybody knew her.

She worked at the Mill Creek Bowling Alley for a short period of time. Laurie was dedicated to helping others and enjoyed volunteering at Maine Medical Center, Mercy Hospital, and various Portland Public Libraries. Her commitment to volunteering at the Maine Medical Center led to her accumulating over 10,000 hours and as a result of her service, she was awarded the Presidential Volunteer Service Award.

Family was very important to Laurie and as such she enjoyed traveling to visit cousins in California, traveling with her mom and dad to Texas, Jamaica, St. Croix, Spain, Florida, Pennsylvania, and traveling with her mom and sister to Vermont and South Carolina. In her free time, she enjoyed visiting and catching up with family and friends, current events and weather, drawing, painting, and reading.

A devout Catholic, the Church and her faith were the central focus of her life and enjoyment. Laurie was a communicant of the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception and was a constant presence at Saturday Mass.

Laurie is survived by her siblings Cynthia LaRou Walsh and husband Thomas of Texas, Phillip “Dick” R. LaRou Jr. and wife Cheryl of Scarborough, Peter “Dan” D. LaRou and partner Christina Young of Scarborough, George R. LaRou and wife Alexandra Ryan of Cape Elizabeth; and numerous nieces, nephews; grandnieces, and grandnephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be announced at a later date.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Homes. To view Laurie’s memorial page, or to share an online condolence, please visit http://www.ConroyTullyWalker.com

Memorial contributions may be made in Laurie’s honor to the

Bruce Roberts Toy Fund,

P.O. Box 7310,

Portland, ME 04112,

or to a charity of your choice.