As her children Ryan, Ari, and Kyle said, “Lara was everyone’s mom.” Her house was always full of friends and family, and she treated every child like her own. Selfless, hardworking, and endlessly supportive, Lara was known as “the cool mom” who brought people together with her warmth and generous spirit.
Whether it was gathering for their weekly “Football Sunday” with plenty of food from her trusty crockpot, sharing her love for Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney and the Miami Dolphins, or enjoying her extra-sweet Dunkin’ Donuts coffee with four creams and Splendas, cuddled up with her cats, Ella and Sierra, Lara had a gift for making ordinary moments feel special. Her laughter was contagious, and she was sentimental in the most beautiful way, holding onto special memories and creating new ones for everyone around her.
Three years ago, Lara received a diagnosis that would change everything. True to her protective nature, she kept the news from her children until she was certain about her path forward. When they finally learned the truth, as Ryan, Ari, and Kyle shared, “it turned our world totally upside down.”
But Lara faced her illness with the same courage and determination that defined her life. She exhausted every treatment option, fighting hard until the very end, even participating in clinical trials at Memorial Sloan Kettering. When the time came to transition to hospice care, the family knew exactly where they wanted to be.
Finding Peace at the Center
Regional Hospice’s Center for Comfort Care & Healing in Danbury was familiar to Lara’s family. Years earlier, two of her brothers-in-law had spent their final days there, and the family remembered the heart-centered care they had received. It felt like the right choice.
Once she settled into her room, Lara was comfortable, her pain well-managed, and she was surrounded by the love of friends and family. The Center became a place where her children could simply be with their mother, and be taken care of, rather than be the caregivers. They found comfort in the living areas, working on puzzles together, relaxing on the couches, and connecting with the steady stream of visitors who came to see Lara.
“Although we felt like we were in a haze for two weeks, the Center brought us peace and comfort,” her children reflected. “It felt like home.”
Ryan treasures another special memory from their time at The Center—a quiet morning when he and his mother watched the sunrise together, sharing a peaceful moment that will stay with him forever.
As Lara’s journey neared its end, her daughter Ari made a beautiful decision—she moved up her wedding so her mother could be there to celebrate. The staff at The Center jumped in immediately to plan the most special wedding ceremony in the Center’s perennial garden.
On a beautiful Sunday morning, surrounded by flowers, music, family and friends, Lara watched as her daughter said, “I do,” alongside her new husband, Sven. Kyle and Ryan gently walked their mother down the aisle. Though she was tired, Lara was happy and peaceful and full of the joy that had always defined her.
The celebration was perfect, and the reception that followed honored both the new marriage and the woman who had brought them all together. It was a testament to The Center’s commitment to making meaningful moments possible, even in the most difficult times.
The day after the wedding, Lara began to decline more rapidly — she had waited for the wedding, and to see all her family who had come to visit. When the end came, Lara passed surrounded by the love that had always been the center of her life, her three children.
Hundreds of people attended Lara’s funeral which was a testament to all the lives she had touched. Her legacy lives on through her beautiful children, the warmth she shared, the fun and special memories others have of her, the friends she brought together, days on the beach, and the love she gave so freely.
