Laura Ann Revak

Laura Ann Revak, age 43, passed away peacefully on the morning of October 14, 2023, after living with brain cancer for five years; she was at her home in Erie and surrounded by family. 

Born in Erie on March 8, 1980, Laura will be remembered as compassionate, bright, and beautiful inside and out by all who knew her. She was an amazing person who took care of other people’s needs without asking for anything in return and left a positive impact on whatever she touched and wherever she went. Loyal to a fault, she was deeply devoted to her family and friends. Her love for her daughter Emma brought her immeasurable joy matched only by the deep pride Laura felt for the strong, independent young woman Emma has become. Tom, Laura’s husband, was her soulmate, and his sense of humor never ceased to make her laugh or flash her unforgettable smile. Legend has it that the first time Tom saw that smile, he told his friend “I’m going to marry that girl one day.” Her family and friends remember the endearing silliness Tom and Laura shared with each other just as they remember Laura’s quick wit. If you found yourself on the receiving end of her sarcasm, you knew you had a special place in her heart. 

Laura graduated from Northwestern High School in Albion in 1998 and went on to attend Gannon University, from which she graduated summa cum laude in 2002. From 1999 to 2002, Laura played centerfield for Gannon softball. Her name can be found in numerous places in the Gannon records books, including at the top for the most single-season and career stolen bases. 

Even as a small child, Laura was an undeniable athlete whose talent and drive were surpassed only by her commitment to her teammates and her sheer delight in the game, whether she was watching or playing. In addition to making the record books at Gannon, Laura played first base and pitched softball in middle and high school. She also played volleyball at Northwestern and later played on the Federated Church of East Springfield Volleyball Rec team for several years. Laura continued to play in local softball leagues with her husband Tom, who shares her love of sports, and together they also coached their daughter Emma’s youth team. Laura was a skilled gymnast in elementary school, and her daughter Emma’s hard work and success in the same sport filled her with pride as did Emma’s prowess in diving and pole vaulting. When she wasn’t cheering on Emma, Laura was rooting for her Astros or Tom’s Orioles.  

Laura loved working alongside her colleagues at the Erie Zoo where she was the Human Resources Manager, and she also loved spending time with her extended zoo family, especially the orangutans Otis and Dasa whom she would visit on her lunch hour, meeting palms and blowing kisses to Dasa through the glass, and Caax the jaguar whom she affectionately called “my handsome boy.” 

From Shelby to Nittany, Laura loved the family cats who brought her, Tom, and Emma so much happiness and comfort over the years, including Thor who joined the family as a kitten after Laura’s brain cancer surgery in 2018. 

She had a special knack for finding just the right gift for friends and family and loved seeing the joy those gifts brought to people. Her thoughtful generosity extended to strangers in need and her mother Michele remembers a time when they were running errands together and saw a person struggling with homelessness outside the store they were going to; without a moment’s hesitation, Laura went into the store, purchased food and water for man, and brought it out to him.

Laura is predeceased by her maternal grandmother Geraldine Hagerty of West Springfield and paternal grandparents Richard and Mildred Kitchen of Albion.

Laura is survived by her mother Michele Hagerty Diehl of Erie and stepfather Roger Diehl of East Springfield; her husband of 21 years Tom Revak and their daughter Emma; her brother Keith Kitchen and his partner Emily; Tom’s brother David Revak of North Carolina, his wife Ronda and children Sam and Jenna; Tom’s parents Stu and Mary Ann Revak of Albion; her dear friends Mere (Shane), Marcy (Rick), and Lisa (Nick); and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Laura ran the 2021 Head for Cure 5K to raise funds for brain cancer research, and she requested that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center. To make a donation, please go to https://my.clevelandclinic.org/giving. and click on “make a donation.” The site provides the option of dedicating your donation to Laura’s memory. Please choose “Other” in the dropdown menu under “What would you like your donation to support?” and then enter “Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center” in the space provided.

Friends may call at the Burton Quinn Scott Cremation and Funeral Services, West Ridge, 3801 W. 26^th Street on Wednesday, October 18^th from 2 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. The family will hold a celebration of life for Laura next spring.

Send condolences at www.BurtonQuinnScott.com