Carla Sue Laucci lost her battle with cancer on January 13, 2017 at Mark Twain Hospital in San Andreas just weeks after her 71st birthday. It was a shock and surprise to her devastated family and she is survived by her husband John Laucci, her daughter Rosa Laucci, her sister Darlene Grana Gery (SPHS '60), and four nieces.

Born December 28, 1945 in Los Angeles, Carla grew up in South Pasadena with her parents, Ruth and Carmel Grana, and her sister Darlene. She graduated from South Pasadena High School in 1963, married her high school sweetheart, Neil Edwards (SPHS '62), and moved to Calaveras County is the late 60s. During their time in the Sierras, Carla and Neil eventually went separate ways, but always remained close friends. She met John Laucci at the Hotel Leger in Moke Hill and they married in 1976 and had one daughter, Rosa.

John, an accomplished chef and owner of Highland Books, and Carla, manager of Two Rivers Trading Company in Arnold, lived in various parts of Calaveras County but eventually took up residence in Hathaway Pines. An avid outdoorswoman, nature lover, and scrapbooker, Carla took advantage of the gorgeous area she lived in to enjoy her hobbies. She lived life to the fullest possible and successfully fought off breast cancer in 2011 with the help and support of her family, friends, and community.

Carla's smile was always genuine, her kindness boundless. Her spirit was always bright, her humor sharp. When she loved, she loved completely and the light that she brought to this world will be sorely missed every day, but the impact she made on the lives around her will remain. As time passes by we will remember Carla, each in our own way. We will laugh and we will cry as we recall all the wonderful memories of our time spent together. Rest in peace Carla, we all love you.

Rosa Laucci, daughter

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My sister was full of life! So beautiful and kind to everyone she met. In growing up together we actually were like black and white. We tangled about lots of things, but we danced together like nobody's business. In our teenage years we had many parties downstairs in our rumpus room, from our junior high to senior high years. Carla had a great smile and was always teasing somebody about something.

Carla married a wonderful man, Neil Edwards (SPHS '62) in 1966. Neil was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease shortly after that and they sold everything they owned and traveled to Europe for three months. Returning to Stanford Hospital, they then moved to Hawaii for about three years, meeting up with Diane Wilkinson (SPHS '63) and her husband. They then moved back to the States and up into the Sierras to West Point. Neil was very ill and she took over as his nurse full time. They later divorced.

In 1976 she met and married John Laucci, moved to Mountain Ranch, built a log cabin home, had a beautiful daughter, Rosa Laucci, and had a great life! Right - Right! They traveled to Mazatlan each year, learning more Spanish (thank you Miss Burr) and enjoyed the beach, etc., from November through March. They sold their log cabin and moved to Arnold, California where they owned a book store and Carla ran an upscale clothing store carrying clothes from Royal Robbins to Eddie Bauer. Their daughter, Rosa, is a marine biologist in Smith River, California, which is on an Indian Reservation. 

I will truly miss our wonderful weekends that Carla and I spent together, laughing, drinking our wine or margaritas, listening to our favorite music and of course, dancing. Did I say dancing...yes, we loved to dance! so now she is dancing with the Angels in the sky. I will love and miss her always.

Darlene Grana Gery '60