Obituary of Laurita Jean Carleton

Laurita Jean Carleton, née Mollenauer, passed away peacefully in the loving presence of her family on Saturday, November 3, 2018 in Newberg, Oregon. She is remembered for her beauty, joyful smile, laughter, love and dedication to her family, her love of baking, and for the many, many lives, she saved and positively affected over her lifetime. Laurita was born November 29, 1948 to Walter and Margery (Cowan) Mollenauer in Washington, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Moon Township High School in 1966 and attended Robert Morris College. She married Stewart James Lattanzio of Corapolis, PA on February 17, 1968. Together they had a daughter, Kathryn Anne (Lattanzio) Martini in 1969, who was the light of her life. After her husband’s deployment to Vietnam, Laurita and Kathryn traveled to stay with family and friends until he returned and they settled in Harlansburg, PA. Laurita attended the Community College of Beaver County and graduated with a nursing degree in 1978. She was a brilliant scholar, graduating top in her class. She was a passionate nurse, always striving to learn new techniques and grow in her career. She married Jeffrey Richard Carleton in 1979. They moved to Danville, Pennsylvania where Laurita continued her nursing career at Geisinger Medical Center in the ICU/CCU department. Together Laurita and Jeff had a son, Christopher Paul Carleton in 1983 – Christopher was her greatest joy. Laurita achieved great success in her nursing career, earning advanced certifications and credentials for critical care and emergency nursing and had the privilege of working as a Life Flight Nurse. In 2000, Laurita moved to Oregon to be closer to her daughter and granddaughters and worked in the Salem Hospital Emergency Department for several years. She finished her nursing career working in the Salem Hospital Infusion Clinic, retiring in 2013. Laurita is survived by her daughter, Kathryn and three granddaughters: Mikayla, Halsey, and Kennedy Rowe; her son Christopher and daughter-in-law Valerie Carleton, all from the Portland, Oregon area. Additionally she is survived by her sister Carol (Mollenauer) and brother-in-law Tom Vracarich; her brother Joe and sister-in-law Kathi Molleanuer; three nephews, Joe, Andrew and Jarett Mollenauer; a niece, Lara Vracarich; four grand-neices, two grand-nephews, all of Pennsylvania; many friends, and her beloved cat, Albie. She was preceded in death by her parents and nephew, Toma Vracarich. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, November 10 at 3:00 PM at Charbonneau Country Club. Donations can be made in her honor to Legacy Hospice Services, who cared for her so tenderly at the end of her life, along with the staff at Willow Place Assisted Living in Newberg, OR.