Following a brief illness, Laura Catherine Cote, a beloved mother, wife, sister, and grandmother, passed away on Monday, June 22, 2026. Laura most recently resided in Punta Gorda, Florida, and passed away surrounded by her children in Port Charlotte. She was born on March 3, 1953 in New Britain, Connecticut, to Gustave and Frances Cote. She attended public school in Newington, Connecticut, before going on to the University of Connecticut, graduating in 1975 with a degree in horticulture. Laura joined the Army and served honorably until her discharge in 1985. She married Gerald Strecker in 1989, and they became the loves of each others' lives. From 1985 until 2006, Laura worked for The Hartford Insurance Company as a computer programmer and went on to work for other insurance companies as well. During her career, she mostly resided in Portland, Connecticut, and Newington, Connecticut. Following her retirement, she lived in many places, including Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, Clayton, North Carolina, East Haddam, Connecticut, and Punta Gorda, Florida; she followed her children wherever they went. Laura will be remembered as many things: as a Member of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of Port Charlotte, and as a volunteer for Backpack Kidz and Lutheran World Relief Mission Quilts Guild; as a survivor of multiple cancers; as an avid reader, quilter, and sewist; as a gardener, dog lover, potato chip connoisseur, Fenton shoe seeker, recipe collector, family photographer, world traveler, and cuckoo clock collector. But most of all, she will be remembered as a kind-hearted person who loved her family. She is survived by many friends and family members: her husband, Gerald Strecker of Punta Gorda, sister Cheryl Ferguson of Hebron, CT; children: Alicia Melillo and her fiance, Steve Pepler, Denise Bailey and her husband Kurt Bailey, Kristen Velez and her husband Mike Velez, and Joshua Strecker and his wife Carla Strecker. She loved her many grandchildren more than anything else: Anthony and Nicholas Melillo, Bryce and Alexis Bailey, Emily and Katelyn Velez, and Frances Strecker. Laura also had many cousins and friends who were dear to her. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to The American Cancer Society. Details about a celebration of life will follow in the future.