Laura Schlueter
Laura Kowalski Schlueter, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and dear friend, passed peacefully surrounded by love. Born on March 12, 1961, to Rita and Charles Kowalski, Laura was a light to all who knew her. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Mark, and is now welcomed home in their loving embrace.
On February 22, 1981, she married her best friend and life partner, Jeffery Schlueter. Together they built a life full of love and adventure, raising two children, Kelli (Michael) Femrite and Charles (Lorena) Schlueter. Laura’s greatest joy was being “Grandma” to Emma, Maya, and Noah, who were the center of her heart.
Laura grew up in Chicago’s Brighton Park neighborhood alongside her cousin and best friend, Missy Baglarz, before settling in Riverside, IL with her husband Jeff as empty nesters. Together, they entered their favorite season of life—sharing adventures and becoming devoted grandparents. Laura cherished attending her grandchildren’s sports games and playing with them, always the kind of grandma who got down on the floor for imaginative play. She also deeply loved her “grand” pets Annie and Moose, and Romeo, who passed just one year before her.
Laura’s life was woven with kindness, laughter, and the beauty of nature. She found joy in long bike rides, hikes through the woods, and traveling with Jeff to explore new landscapes. Whether pausing by a babbling stream, gazing at the moon and stars, or pedaling down a wooded path, Laura felt most alive outdoors—her soul always at peace in the embrace of nature.
Her love was all-encompassing, the kind that lingers in every memory, every walk in the forest, every starlit sky. To know Laura was to feel cared for, seen, and loved without condition. She leaves behind a circle of family and friends who will carry her spirit forward.
Laura’s favorite prayer, The Serenity Prayer, guided her life and continues to bless those she loved:
God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
Laura’s journey continues on in divine light, embraced by angels and ancestors. In every forest path, in every shimmering night sky, she will always be near.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to this GoFundMe to dedicate a tree to Laura at the Morton Arboretum. Once her tree is placed, we will all have a sacred place to visit to honor her life and memory.
Link for Go Fund Me:
https://gofund.me/1c41d2bb4
A graveside service will be held Wednesday September 10 at 12:30pm at Resurrection Cemetery, Justice Illinois. Laura friends and family are welcome to attend the service.