Lauria C. Demers, 85 year resident of Chicopee and more recently of Keystone Commons in Ludlow, passed away on October 24th after a brief illness. Born on December 24, 1928, to Frederick and Rhea (Duval) Piquette, Lauria was a loving wife and mother. She was a graduate of the Chicopee High School class of 1946, and was a member of the Nativity of the BVM Parish in Willimansett for most of her life. Among her many careers, Lauria was a Telephone Operator for the Chicopee office of New England Tel & Tel, and also the Receptionist and Switchboard Operator at Facemate Corp in Chicopee. She was a member and past president of the Chicopee Falls Women’s Club. She was named “Woman of the Year” by the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce in 1973 and was also a member of the Chicopee Senior Bridge Club, Cribbage Club and Senior Exercise program all at the Chicopee Senior Center. Lauria was pre-deceased in 2004 by her loving husband (former Chicopee Mayor Richard Demers), and in their nearly 54 years of marriage, she and Richard took many trips throughout the U.S. as they both loved to travel. The couple also summered at their cottage on Pine Island Lake in Westhampton where for more than 30 years they entertained family and friends. Throughout their years together, Lauria was a key figure in managing her husband’s many political campaigns. Lauria is survived by her daughter, Lynette & husband Doctor Michael Jozefczyk of Manlius, NY, and by her sons Robert Demers of Chicopee, Kenneth Demers and his partner Lauren Duquette of Holyoke, and Thomas Demers and former daughter-in-law Mary Demers of East Longmeadow. She is also survived by Patricia Demers of Denver, CO, the widow of her oldest son Richard who passed away in 2015. Lauria is also survived by 14 grandchildren: Ryan Demers, Alyssa Demers (and her partner Krys), Rory Demers, Katherine Haubner (and her husband Shawn), Dana Jozefczyk, Celia Demers, Kristin Trznadel (and her husband Andrew), Nicholas Jozefczyk, Thomas Demers (and his wife Allison), Andrew Demers, Paige Jozefczyk, Benjamin Demers, Jeffrey Demers and Lauria Demers. In addition, Lauria is survived by 5 great grandchildren: Owen and Anna Haubner, and Emily, Peter and Ava Trznadel. Lauria also leaves her brothers Donald Piquette (and wife Carol) of Granby, MA, Rene Piquette of Ft. Lauderdale, and her sister Constance Huggins of Chicopee. Lauria was pre-deceased by her brothers Frederick in 2010 and Paul in 2016. She is also survived by sisters-in law Georgette Piquette, Dottie Piquette and Claire Carley as well as many very dear friends. Memorial gifts may be made to the National Arthritis Foundation, 1355 Peachtree St NE Suite 600, Atlanta, GA 30309 and to the Chicopee Senior Center, 5 W Main St. Chicopee, MA 01020. Calling Hours will be held on Sat, Oct 28, 2017 from 9 AM to 11 AM at the Grise Funeral Home 280 Springfield St. Chicopee with a funeral home service to take place at 11 AM. Burial will follow in St Rose de Lima Cemetery.