Laura M. Erickson, 47, of 728 Sutherland St., Ironwood, died early Sunday morning, June 21, 2009, surrounded by her family, at St. Mary's Medical Center in Duluth, Minn., following a brief illness. She was born Aug. 30, 1961, in Wakefield, daughter of the late Floyd and Dorothy (Biermaker) Pedrin, attended Wakefield, Bessemer and Sault Ste. Marie schools, and graduated from A.D. Johnston High School in Bessemer in 1979. She attended the auto mechanics program at Gogebic Community College for one year, and worked in the area for many years. She was employed as a personal care worker and supportive home care worker for Villa Home Health for 10 years. Laura was a hardworking, strong, independent woman who put her best foot forward. She will be greatly missed. Surviving are a son, Jason (Courtney Alexandroni), Ironwood; two daughters, Melissa Vukelich, Ironwood, and Jessica Erickson, Ironwood Township; six grandsons and another grandchild on the way; two brothers, Gordon Pedrin, Ironwood, and Stanley Pedrin, Grand Rapids; four sisters, Margaret Norris (Dave Sawaski), Ironwood, Beatrice (Mike) Sjoblom, Milwaukee, Virginia (Daniel) Oberst, Wakefield, and Violet Smollar (Tom Doucette), Hurley; and her longtime companion, Bernie Santini, Lake Gogebic Besides her parents, Laura was preceded in death by brothers, John, Jerry and Richard Pedrin, and a sister, Roberta Serbin. In accordance with her wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial gathering in celebration of Laura's life will be held Tuesday, June 30, from 2 to 5 p.m., at the McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, 305 N. Lowell St., in Ironwood. Following the gathering, a reception will be held at 728 Sutherland St. in Ironwood. Private inurnment will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Wakefield. To view Laura's obituary online, sign the guestbook and express condolences, visit www.mckevittpatrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are with McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Ironwood.