Lauren was born on March 3rd, 1949 in Springfield, Illinois to Lawrence and Mary Ellen Sronce. Laurie's birth was followed in quick succession by three siblings: Garry, Lynn, and Greg. In 1957, Laurie's father died from complications of diabetes. Determined to provide for her four young children, Mary Ellen moved the family to Urbana where she could work full-time while getting a Bachelor's degree in Education. Eight-year-old Laurie helped her busy mother by frequently looking after her three younger siblings.

Following the move to Urbana, the Sronce children attended St. Mary's parochial school in Champaign, where Laurie met fellow third grader Roch Ducey. Laurie and Roch quickly became friends. They began dating when they were sophomores at Urbana High School. After graduation, they both attended the University of Illinois. Laurie and Roch were married just before the start of their junior year of college, in September 1969.

Shortly after the wedding Laurie suspended her college studies to take a full-time position at the University of Illinois' Orchard Downs Pre-School. A skilled and generous caretaker from an early age by both circumstance and instinct, Laurie would continue her work with children and families for over four decades. She worked as a teacher then assistant director at The Children's Center in Urbana. After finishing her degree from the U of I in Early Childhood Education, she became The Children Center's director. She briefly worked with at-risk families through the Developmental Services Center before being employed for over ten years at the University of Illinois' Child Care Resource Service. During her time at these organizations Laurie touched many Illinois families, helping parents and childcare providers alike care for hundreds of children.

Meanwhile, Laurie and Roch were starting a family of their own. Meghan Elizabeth was born in January 1975, followed four years later by Kathleen Rebecca. With a network of extended family across Illinois, frequent family car trips across the country to visit her siblings, and elaborate family Christmases at Mary Ellen's home in Urbana, Laurie was often cooking for a crowd or chasing after her daughters, nieces, and nephews. Laurie and Roch formed many close friendships, too, most notably with four other couples who cheekily called themselves the Champaign County Canasta and Culture Club. The Duceys' home on Indiana Avenue was often brimming over with people and laughter.

Laurie's grandchildren have benefitted the most from her devotion to family. Just prior to the arrival of the first grandchild, Jackson Roch Adrian, in 2002, Laurie went into an early semi-retirement. With Meghan and her husband Rich living on the west coast and Kate and her husband Erik living in Minnesota, Laurie knew it would take a special commitment to be a big part of her grandchildren's lives. When Jack was born, Laurie set a precedent she'd repeat with all three subsequent grandchildren: she spent a full month caring for her daughter's family, cooking, cleaning, and providing childcare. Jack, Rowan Christopher Adrian (2004), Lauren Philippa Hanson (2008) and Freya Elizabeth Hanson (2012) were all loved and cared for by their "Gran" from their earliest days. Supported and often accompanied by Roch, Laurie continued to make the effort to travel to see both daughters' families many times a year. So despite the distances involved, Gran and Poppa have always had an especially close relationship with each of their grandchildren.

A life-long lover of music, books, and movies, Laurie had widely diverse tastes. From John Steinbeck to Kurt Vonnegut to Anne Lamott, Laurie always had a good book to recommend to friends and family; she had a special fondness for mystery novels. She served on the board of the Urbana Free Library and was a member of two book groups. She was also a regular at the Art movie theatre in Champaign, and until this past spring she never missed a single Ebertfest. Having travelled within the U.S. considerably while their children were growing up, Laurie and Roch also discovered a love of international travel after Laurie's retirement. In recent years they travelled all over the world, including parts of Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania. Laurie and Roch were both active with the Unitarian Universalist Church, as well. Laurie's curiosity about the world and passion for discovery has enriched the lives of her friends, and has been passed on to her children and grandchildren.

In January of this year Laurie was diagnosed with bile duct cancer. Throughout the spring and summer she underwent chemotherapy and radiation at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, optimistically preparing to be put on the liver transplant waiting list. However, in July it was discovered that the cancer had spread and a transplant was no longer an option. Laurie faced the terrible news with characteristic grace, strength and humor, and spent her last months traveling and visiting family. During her final days, her daughters Meghan and Kate and brother Garry travelled to Urbana to be with her, joining her sister Lynn and mother Mary Ellen at her bedside. Her younger brother Greg had succumbed to cancer 30 years previously. Laurie died peacefully in her home on October 28th, with Roch right beside her as he had been throughout their 44 years of marriage.

A memorial will be held on Friday, November 1st, at 3:00 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Urbana. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Laurie's name to the Urbana Free Library.