Laurie L. Adams

Laurie L. Adams, 68, of Newfield, NY passed away peacefully, with her loving family by her side, on March 24, 2025. Born in Watertown, NY, she was the daughter of Clarence and Ruwand Stafford. She spent her childhood in Lacona, NY and graduated from Sandy Creek Central School. Following that, she went on to earn an Associate’s Degree in Business/Secretarial at JCC in Watertown, NY. Laurie then worked at BOCES in Mexico, NY and later at Constellation/Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station as a Document Control Administrative Assistant. Laurie loved music and reading. She and her husband, who played guitar and sang in two bands for some time, while working as an electrician at Niagara Mohawk, sang a song to each other when they were married. Their favorite song was Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers.

Laurie is predeceased by her parents, Clarence and Ruwand Stafford, her husband, Ervin Adams, Sr., and her sons, Jason and Ryan Adams.

Laurie is survived by her siblings: Barry Stafford, Lacona, NY; Karen (Geoffrey) Walker, Camden, NY; Pete (Patricia) Stafford, Lacona, NY; Susan Hirschberger (Richard Dunham), Newfield, NY (Susan was Laurie’s loving caregiver); and Denise (Bruce) Elkin, Sandy Creek, NY.

She is survived by her son, Ervin Adams (Renae) and his children, Kaziah, Jesse, Sabrina, and Korbyn, and Renae’s children, Cooper and Spencer; daughter-in-law, Lisa and her children, Sierra, Hayley (Matt), Jason Jr. (Emily), and Nathan.

Laurie is also survived by her nieces and nephews, John Wall (Jeanne), Matthew Wall (Cheryl), Daniel Walker(Nicol), Chad Walker (Jennifer), and Eric Walker (Amy), Katie (Hirschberger) DeTommaso (Chane Wright) (Katie was another loving caregiver for Laurie), Jonathan Hirschberger (Rachel), Nicholas Elkin (Carolee) and Michael Elkin (Elizabeth).

Surviving great-grandchildren are Peyton Adams and Greyson Adams, and great- nephew, Benjamin Hirschberger, and great-niece, Emma Hirschberger. She is survived by her Aunt Pat and Uncle Steve Burch, and her special aunt, Jeanne Sadler and many adored cousins, and special friends, Sherry Selvaggio, Mary Gordon, and Janee Bontomase.

Laurie loved the sun and beaches, and could often be found on the back deck sitting in the sun with a book if someone stopped by for a visit. She loved the spring garden coming to life, bringing color after the winter snow had disappeared. Laurie’s sense of humor was keen, always ready with a good quip in response to a funny story from a loved one. Though she faced many challenges in her lifetime, she always thought of others, remembering birthdays and other special events. She cherished her independence but treasured calls from family and friends to her last days, listening with compassion about what was going on in their lives and sharing in their joys. Rascal, the family dog, kept her company over his last years next to her chair, reminding her to keep up with her “foot massages.”

As an example of how Laurie’s grandchildren felt, this was shared: “She has given me strength, reason, inspiration, and light in this dark world, and I will look for her in every sunrise and sunset”.

We will miss her care, wisdom, and presence.

There will be no services. There will be a private family gathering to celebrate her life at a later date.

We greatly appreciate your love and care for Laurie over the years.

If you wish to do so, you may make a donation in her name to:

American Diabetes Association, PO Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023. You may add Laurie’s name as the person you are honoring with the donation.

From Laurie to you:

As I sit in Heaven

And watch you every day,

I try to let you know with signs

I never went away.

I hear you when you’re laughing

And watch you as you sleep

I even place my arms around you

To calm you as you weep.

I see you wish the days away

begging to have me home.

So I try to send you signs

so you know you are not alone.

Don’t feel guilty that you have

life that was denied to me.

Heaven is truly beautiful,

just you wait and see.

So live your life, laugh again,

enjoy yourself, be free!

Then I know with every breath you take

you’ll be taking one for me.

- By Hazel Birdsall