Laura L. Larsen

We are sad to announce the passing of Laura Olesen Larsen on November 10, 2019. A recently retired teacher in the Carlisle School District. She was 63 years old.
A great friend to all who knew her. She had a kind and generous heart and always did her best to make everyone happy.
Laura was the fifth addition to the Olesen family of Karrsville, NJ. The third daughter born to Martin and Gladys (Kreutziger) Olesen.
She was born at Hunterdon Medical Center in Flemington, NJ on September 14, 1956. Dad gave her a nickname and it stuck. We called her Buttons.
She is survived by her husband, Tom. Three children: Kari (Seth) of Harrisburg, Kirsti (David) of Carlisle, and Kristopher at home.
Also, her siblings Roger Olesen of Cooperstown, NY, Susan Olesen of Washington, NJ, Nancy (Lynn) Pohl of Washington, NJ, David (Barbara) Olesen of Hackettstown, NJ, and Lisa (Rich) Gonichelis of Washington, NJ.
Fourteen nieces and nephews who always felt special because of the attention she gave them. Also, great nieces and nephews who she surprised each year on their birthdays with cards and always an enclosure – the appropriate $ amount of their age in dollar bills.
She graduated from Warren Hills in 1974 where she earned the scholar athlete award. Laura excelled in basketball and field hockey. She also reigned as Miss Football in 1973. After graduation from Warren Hills she went on to East Stroudsburg College for her teaching credentials. She completed her studies in 1977 and then began her teaching career. She taught at Pocono Mountain High School for a number of years before leaving to start a family.
While home with her young children, Laura was introduced to Longaberger Baskets and joined them as a sales consultant. Eventually moving up to the level of Branch Advisor where she was very successful. After a decade of selling baskets, she moved back to teaching in the Carlisle School District. She was a very creative teacher and put a lot of energy and thought into making her physical education lessons fun. Dancing was a great way to get the kids moving. She also started running and even completed a half marathon in her early 50’s. Then in 2018 she decided to retire.
Laura enjoyed all types of music. But dancing was always something she loved! She could be seen demonstrating all the dance steps for those line dances at Fantasy Island, DJ night, when she was on her yearly vacation at Long Beach Island. She loved the beach, going to the pool, sampling different foods, watching cooking shows, loved Jeopardy, spinning at the YMCA, morning coffee, bookstores, concerts, going into New York City. She collected antiques and primitives and incorporated them into the décor of her home.
She is preceded in death by and will be reunited with her parents and her nephew, Russell (Rusty) Bodine.
As per her wishes, services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Boiling Springs Pool where a bench will be purchased in her memory. Checks can be made payable to the Boiling Springs Pool and sent to Boiling Springs Pool, P.O. Box 626, Boiling Springs, PA 17007. Please include “Laura” in the memo line of check donations.
To sign the guestbook, please visit www.HoffmanFH.com.