Laura Marie Colette Eckerman Haukaas SFO, age 98, entered into eternal rest at her home on Sunday, December 29, 2019.
Laura was born on November 4, 1921 in Colome, South Dakota to the late John J. Eckerman and Katherine Steiner Eckerman. It was in Colome at Saint Isidores Catholic Church where Laura was baptized, confirmed, had her first communion, and where she married her late husband, Donald James Haukaas on August 30, 1940. In the late 70s she began training to become a Secular Franciscan and was professed on October 4, 1981. She ministered with the local and regional fraternities, and rose to Provincial Minister national representative of the United States traveling to Canada, the Philippines, Portugal, South America, and Australia. Laura also participated in a five week study pilgrimage to Israel.
Laura was an office manager/bookkeeper for Independent Ink in California. Following retirement she went to work in her son-in-law’s medical practice (Robert Fortin, M.D.) and her grandson’s chiropractic office (Troy Fortin, D.C.).
Laura is survived by her two children, Jean Fortin (Robert Fortin, M.D.) of John’s Creek GA and Larry Haukaas (Kelly) of Grovetown GA; one sister, Mary Lindley of Denver, Colorado; six grandchildren; eighteen great grandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren.
A memorial mass will take place on Friday, January 10, 2020 at 11:00 am at Saint Monica’s Catholic Church, Duluth GA.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Vincent de Paul the Conference at The Catholic Church of Saint Monica, 1700 Buford Highway, Duluth, Georgia 30097.