Obituary of Laura M. Robinson

Laura Margaret (Goullaud) Robinson, a woman who leaves a legacy of family passed away peacefully with her loved ones at her bedside on Sunday morning, April 1, 2018. She was 78 years old. Laura was born in Boston. She was one of six children raised by Charles and Rose Goullaud. She grew up in Mission Hill and in Arlington. She was a graduate of Arlington High School. In Arlington, her future husband Charles Robinson lived two houses up the street. They dated before he entered the Army during the Korean War. When he returned from his military service, he brazenly announced to his friends and Laura that he was going to marry her the following year. It was a risky chance, but it worked and the couple were married in 1959. They lived for a spell in Cambridge and Melrose before settling in Burlington. Laura had been working as a real estate agent and showed a client a home in Burlington. After touring the house with her client, she returned home to her husband saying that she had found “the house of her dreams”. Thankfully, her client didn’t want to make an offer, so Laura and Charles jumped at the opportunity to purchase the home. That home was where they raised their 5 children. It was in a wonderful neighborhood filled with children and great neighbors. Laura always had a job during her working years. She sold real estate, waitressed at the Post and Rail Restaurant in Billerica, bookkeeping at National Data Computer in Billerica, and doing accounting for New England Produce, Inc. where she retired from. She was a bit of a perfectionist and would not rest until her books balanced to the exact penny. The job she probably enjoyed most was being a waitress. She loved the interaction with her customers and worked with a great group of coworkers many of who became her longtime friends. One in particular, Pat Gallagher, became one her best friends for the next 45 years. They and their husbands were the 4 amigos. They both purchased homes at York Beach Maine and later Naples, Florida. The played golf, traveled, and cherished each other’s companionship. Laura’s life revolved around her children and later her grandchildren. She was always there to support them in their education, sports, activities, and in their life decisions. The home in York Beach, Maine has been the summer gathering spot for her entire family for the past 42 years. She spent the days at the beach chatting with family and friends. The evening activities included board and card games around the kitchen table, and walking downtown for a special treat or ice cream. The house was always filled to the brim with family and friends during summer weekends and it kept her children and grandchildren close and strong. Memories of Laura’s famous spaghetti & meatball dinners and cookouts, signature cocktails, will resonate in the hearts of all her family for years to come. Laura and Charles’s retirement years were spent wintering in Florida and summering in York. They had enough of the cold weather and were very happy basking in the sun, walking 4 miles a day, watching the Red Sox, doing her Sudoku & puzzles and playing golf in the women’s league and with Charlie. Their Bonita Springs home was plenty big to host their family during winter and school vacations. Laura loved her family and friends and genuinely cared about everyone. She would light up a room with her big beautiful smile and was a loyal friend. Laura was the beloved wife of 59 years of Charles Robinson. She was the loving mother of Donna Connolly & her husband Jim of Nashua, NH, Charles Robinson & his wife Diana of Cape Neddick, ME, Marianne McKenna & her husband the late Robert McKenna of Billerica, William Robinson & his wife Amanda of Methuen and Laura Sullivan & her husband Kevin of Burlington. She was the proud grandmother of James Connolly & his wife Alexandra; Michael, Catherine & Bryan Connolly; Siobhan Lopez & her husband Joseph; Kyle, Samantha, Liam & Zoe Robinson, and Kaila, Thomas & Margaret Sullivan and Craig Paradiso. She was the fun and loyal sister of George Goullaud & his wife Mary of ME, Mary Ann Scanlon & her companion Marilyn Kuntupis of FL, Frank Downey & his wife Marcia of FL, and the late Edna Joyce and Joseph Goullaud. She was the sister-in-law of Patricia Goullaud of Nashua, NH. Laura was also survived by many nieces and nephews. Funeral from the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn Street, BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128/95 Woburn side) on Friday, April 6 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Margaret’s Church, 111 Winn St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Thursday 4-8 p.m. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery, BURLINGTON. Memorials in Laura’s name may be made to Vitas Healthcare, 4980 Tamiami Trial North, Suite 102, Naples, FL 34103