AMBROSE, Laura Anne

Hansen Desert Hills Mortuary Scottsdale, Arizona Laura Anne Mason October 18, 1963 ~ March 3, 2012 Laura Anne Mason died peacefully March 3, 2012 at Sherman Home Hospice after a long and courageous battle against Leukemia. She was born October 18, 1963 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the daughter of Louis and Sara (Bradley) Mason. Laura graduated from Oshkosh West High School, with honors, and earned a degree in Spanish Education from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Additional study was at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Laura’s first job was at Random Lake (Wisconsin) High School where she taught until 1989 when she decided to leave the cold climate of Wisconsin behind and move (by herself) to the sunny Phoenix area to find a job. Laura began her Arizona career teaching Spanish at Moon Valley High School and later taught at Washington High School. During this time she earned a Master’s degree in Guidance from Northern Arizona University. A few years ago she decided on a new career path and earned credentials so she could become the librarian at Moon Valley High School. She was on leave from that position at the time of her death. In 1997 Laura met the love of her life, Rob Ambrose. They married November 11, 2005 in Las Vegas. Their life together was completed by the addition of their many pets. At one time they had three cats and three dogs, including 3-legged Gracie. Their most recent addition was her precious Charlie dog who was able to spend time with her in Hospice. In addition to her love of animals she was a voracious reader, made beautiful jewelry, and love to travel. Among Laura’s favorite travels were a long car trip with Rob to the Seattle, Washington area, to Hawaii with Rob and their friends, Randy and Alfonso, to Chicago to see the Cubbies and back to Oshkosh with her Dad, to Great Britain and Italy (twice) with Mom, and in 2008 with Mom and her brother, John, to Northern Ireland and Scotland to visit her ancestral homeland. Laura is survived by her husband, Rob Ambrose, and her parents, Sara and Louis Mason, all of Glendale, Arizona; her brother, John Mason, his wife Janey and their daughter Vivian of Carlsbad, California; a special uncle, Fred Bradley of Frankfort, Kentucky, and her Kentucky cousins who she loved and visited together with Rob last summer. Arrangements for her cremation have been handled by Hansen Desert Hills Mortuary. A reception to celebrate her life will be held, Saturday, March 17, 2012 from 12-3PM at the home of Randy Kleiser and Alfonso Gomez. For directions please contact Rob or Laura’s parents. Donations may be made in her name to bestfriends.org or to your local humane society.