Laurea M. Armstrong accomplished many fabulous things, but defined herself through her roles as a daughter, mother, and sister; as well as an integral part of a supportive friend group, and a vivacious learner who excelled professionally.
She travelled with verve and gusto, visiting Italy, Canada, The Netherlands, and the Virgin Islands with family and friends. She lived globally, moving to states including California, Virginia, and Indiana; internationally to Hong Kong, and in one great adventure almost to Ecuador, but she always came back to Florida; the state where so many of her friends were or were willing to visit.
Laurea was born and raised in Pennsylvania. She attended college at Ohio State University and Virginia Western Community College where she completed her degree in Architectural Engineering. She built her professional reputation estimating construction costs for large commercial building projects. Laurea then founded, owned, and successfully sold Armstrong Construction Company, which specializing in heavy highway construction. She then began a 20-year career as a Senior Construction Manager with Buena Vista Construction, Walt Disney World, in Orlando after which she retired.
Laurea loved her life and her independence. She was also fond of a medium-rare filet, Motown music, The Band, gardening, reading, and learning techniques like tile cutting, wallpapering and oil painting. She didn’t care for naps, vegetarian food that resembled meat, or wearing socks with sandals.
Remaining to applaud her legacy are her daughter Erin Marie Wallace (partner, Robert Bartell Funk III), sister Corlea ‘Lea’ Ogozelec (husband, Michael Ogozelec), their three children and grandchild, and a large group of friends, much too numerous to list but each appreciated and loved.
A luncheon will be scheduled in February for family and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, 411 Mercy Drive, Orlando, Florida 32085.
