This blog was started by Carl Quinn after the unexpected loss of his wife Laurie Quinn on November 22, 2021. Laurie suffered a brain aneurysm at home on the morning of November 21, 2021 and succumbed to the injury on November 22, 2021 at Albany Medical Center, Albany NY.
Laurie was a beautiful person inside and out. She was a daughter, sister, mother and wife, aunt and friend. She was a steadfast advocate for those battling substance use disorder and their families. You can learn more about Laurie by reading her full obituary below.
It is with profound sadness and with the deepest regret that we announce the loss of our beautiful daughter, sister, mother, wife, aunt and friend Laura Jean Rice Demmerle Quinn at the age of 58. Laurie transitioned peacefully on Monday November 22nd after suffering a catastrophic brain aneurysm at home on Sunday. Our hearts are broken.
Laura was born in Syracuse on September 11, 1963 to Carol Breed Rice and the late Steven A. Rice. In 1998, she moved to Chatham. In June of 2000, she married Carl Quinn. For 18 years she and Carl owned and operated Technology 4 All, Inc. before they closed the business to change careers and focus their attention on those struggling with the devastating effects of Substance Use Disorder, the Opioid Epidemic, that was impacting friends, loved ones and many in the local community. Laurie was a champion among a great group of local people behind creating the group Columbia County Pathways To Recovery. She would go on to co-found Our Wellness Collective with her friend and business partner Cortney Lovell. Together, they had a vision to create resources and training curriculum for the recovery community locally and nationally. Laurie trained countless individuals to become Certified Recovery Peer Advocates who in turn would help other people battling addiction. They are carrying on what they learned from her to help save lives every day. She was a true champion of the Harm Reduction Works movement and ran a Tuesday night Family Support group to help other people understand their loved ones illness and offer support, compassion, guidance and understanding. People are alive today because of Laurie’s love, commitment, dedication and passion to helping others.
Laurie was also a committed Rotarian and truly believed in the motto of Rotary International that is, “Service Above Self”. Laurie was a past Rotary District 7210 Secretary and chaired numerous committees and events for Rotary. She also is responsible for many out of control games of Cards Against Humanity at many Rotary Conferences. She’d say “Rotarians are not boring!” Some in Rotary referred to her as the “Queen of Everything and Shenaniganator Extraordinaire.” She loved and cherished her Rotary Family as well as her Recovery Family. Laurie made the selfless decision to be an organ donor. Her gift of life will help endless others.
Laurie is survived by her mother Carol Rice of Syracuse, brother David Rice of Nedrow, husband Carl of Ghent, Sons Michael Demmerle of Ghent, Eric Demmerle (Ashley) of Deerfield Beach, her former husband Douglas Demmerle, stepmother Barbara Rice of Key Largo, stepsisters Dawn Barton-Goodnough, Angie Mason, and her best friend of 44 years MaryBeth Carroll Johnson and of course the entire Quinn family. To list them all here would require writing a book but Laurie was truly a part of our entire Quinn family and will be missed greatly. She was the life of our Quinn Family events and has created many new traditions that we will carry on in her memory. She is also survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Family and friends are invited to calling hours to be held at Wenk Funeral Home, 21 Payn Avenue, Chatham on Saturday December 4th 2021 from 11am to 2pm. Friends are invited to gather after at the West Ghent Fire House 74 Bender Blvd. Ghent. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested as follows: HRH413 (Harm Reduction Hedgehogs), c/o Jess Tilley 36 Bedford Terrace, #2, Northampton MA, 01060. These donations will be specifically used to help created more Family Support Meetings exactly like the one that Laurie conducted weekly that have helped so many individuals locally and around the country. Alternatively, donations may be made to Everlasting Hope Animal Rescue (EHAR), 180 Prach Rd. Hillsdale NY 12529. They brought Laurie to her precious Bleu Belle Beagle and can help so many others.
Grief After Loss 