Laura Bashaw, 70, of Naperville, formerly of Hinsdale, Downers Grove, and Door County, Wis., passed away May 21, 2022.
She was born in 1951 in Chicago to Mildred Edith, nee Johnson, and Frank Xavier Liptrot.
A 40-year victor over muscular dystrophy, Laura never let anything stop her and traveled the world nonetheless.
Laura grew up in Albany Park on Chicago’s Northwest Side and attended Hibbard Grammar School and Von Steuben High School, where she was in the class of 1969. Laura put Steve through law school working for Illinois Bell Telephone and was a paralegal. She rode a Harley Davidson Motorcycle from Vancouver BC to Chicago, a Nimble Nomad trawler across the Erie Canal and crewed her family on RAGBRAI on numerous occasions.
Laura was known as an avid gardener and her beautiful garden at the house in Hinsdale will always be remembered fondly. She had a wonderful flair for remodeling and interior design and enjoyed photography.
Over the years Laura had many pets, including several parrots and her dogs, Shasta, Coastie, Belle, Lika, Lette and Oakley. She and Steve “puppy-raised” service dogs, and she loved each of them. Laura leaves behind her beloved dog Iggy, a wonderful Havanese and devoted companion who never left her side.
Of all the things that Laura enjoyed, her most rewarding position was that of mother to her four children, who will tell you that she had supersonic hearing, held land speed records for backing down the driveway, counted endless bunnies, was a sucker for a Snicker’s bar and was affectionately known as “Grandma Scooter,” “robo-Mom” and “Higgins.”
She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Steven B. Bashaw; her children, U.S. Navy Capt. Jennifer (Johnathon) Jones, Kimberly Bashaw, Andrew (Beth Krueger) Bashaw and Daniel (Samantha) Bashaw; her grandchildren, Alayna Bashaw, Lauren Jones, Erin Jones, Madeline Jones, Aiden Bashaw, Ava Bashaw, Juni Bashaw and Mahail Bashaw; and her siblings, Patti Durham, Mark Liptrot and F. Michael Liptrot.
Laura was preceded in death by her parents, Mildred and Frank.
A memorial service was held May 26 at Friedrich Jones Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Naperville.
