June 25, 1947-Nov. 16, 2023
Laurel Jane (Velliquette) Sweetman, 76, of Alton, Ill. died on Nov. 16, 2023 of brain cancer.
She was born June 25, 1947 in Toledo, Ohio, the daughter of Richard E. Velliquette and Lucy May (Holliger) Velliquette.
Laurel married Alan R. Sweetman in Cocoa Beach, Fla., on August 2, 1969, and they spent 54 happy years together, full of love and adventure.
She is survived by her husband, Alan R. Sweetman; brother, Richard Thomas (Judy) Velliquette; sisters Joan Carol (Collin) Powers, and Beth Ann Velliquette; nephews Jesse (Diana) Hartman, Eli (Mary Jane) Velliquette and Richard W. Velliquette; and grand-nephews Harvey M. Hartman and Maddox Velliquette. Also surviving are sister-in-law Judy (Sweetman) Varble and her husband, William Varble.
Through Laurel’s father’s work, she lived many places growing up, including Sarnia, Ontario, Fort Collins, Colo., Las Vegas, Nev., East Alton, Ill., and Cocoa Beach, Fla. She graduated from Western High School in Las Vegas and attended college at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., and Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Ill.
She taught art and journalism and was the yearbook advisor in the Southwestern School District, Piasa, Ill. She influenced and impacted the lives of her students in many positive ways.
She also worked at the St. Louis Art Museum, preparing and presenting programs for children’s groups. As a young woman, she had a job with the Apollo Project at Cape Canaveral, Fla.
She and her husband built a cabin in Elk Meadows above Ridgway, Colo., where they spent their summers with their beloved dogs, hiking, skiing and hosting their friends and family with evenings of fun and laughter.
Because she had a horse as a girl and loved working with them and young people, she volunteered at Jamestown New Horizons Therapeutic Horseback Riding for more than 30 years.
Memorial contributions may be made to: Jamestown New Horizons, Florissant, Mo; Hope Rescues, Godfrey, Ill; 5 A’s Humane Society, Alton, Ill; or Second Chance Humane Society, Ridgway, Colo.
Per her request, no funeral or memorial services will be held, although a wake is being planned for sometime in the near future.
