ENFIELD – Laura E. Sereyko (Hendrickson), 56, wife of Francis Dale Sereyko, died July 23, 2009, surrounded by her family and friends, at home. She was born in Camden, N.J., daughter of the late Paul and Mildred (Bell) Hendrickson. Laura worked as a pre-school teacher/developmental specialist at the Cerebral Palsy Center, Pennsauken, N.J., from 1973 to 1976, before moving to Howland. She started her career with SAD 31 in 1976 as a self-contained special education teacher and from 1977 to 1984 was the itinerant resource room teacher. She was the special education administrator in Howland from 1984 to 2001. Laura then transferred to Ellsworth as the special education director, where she stayed until 2003. She ended her career working with the State Department of Education in Augusta, where she retired from in 2007. She continued to work after retirement as an educational consultant. She served on the Executive Committee, as president of MADSEC for the 2001-2002 year. In 2006 she received the Educator of the Year award for the state of Maine. Laura was revered by her colleagues statewide for her excellent interpersonal skills, and the ability to ensure the individual needs of students, staff, administration and parents were met throughout her career. Laura was an amazing wife, mother and sister who was devoted to her family and friends. She was an avid quilter and enjoyed sewing. She also liked to travel worldwide; camping and visiting her daughters in California. She was very fond of gardening and birdwatching. Laura was an excellent host, always willing to entertain family and friends on any occasion. She was an extremely positive person and her laughter and smile will be sorely missed by all who knew her. Laura is survived by her loving husband of 30 years, Francis Dale Sereyko; her daughters, Kristin and Megan; Megan’s fiance, Joe Dunn; sister, Linda Gibson of Arizona; brother, Paul Hendrickson and wife, Gilda, of Delaware; mother-in-law, Stella Sereyko of Howland; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Joan and Philip McPhail of Lowell, Jean and John Neel of Howland, Donald and Mary Sereyko of Howland and Linda and Frank Bartron of Florida; many other family and friends. Laura was predeceased by her parents, Paul and Mildred; and father-in-law, Francis M. Sereyko. Family and friends may visit 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. July 26 at Clay Funeral Home, 7 Lee Road, Lincoln. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Monday, July 27, at St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Howland. Burial will be at St. Matthew’s Cemetery, West Enfield. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be sent in Laura’s name to Cancer Treatment Centers of America, 1331 East Wyoming Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19124. For an online guest register and to leave written condolences, please visit www.clayfuneralhome.com.
LAURA E. SEREYKO
