Laura Jane Lacatena
Laura Jane Lacatena, 81, of Holly Springs, North Carolina, passed away on October 24, 2026. She is survived by her husband Nicholas John Lacatena; children Michele and Nicholas Lacatena; sister JoAnn Alaimo (Frank); brother William McCabe (Madelyn); grandchildren Tino and Sienna Lacatena; many much-loved nieces and nephews; and her devoted dog, Luigi. She was preceded in death by her parents, and many well-trained family dogs.
Laura was born on August 25, 1945, to Laura and Joseph McCabe, in Paterson, New Jersey. She graduated from Central High School in 1962, where, among others, she met five life-long and most dear friends. She married Nicholas in 1965 and they raised their two children in Kinnelon, New Jersey. Laura was a secretary in her early career at Sun Life of Canada, and later at Marotta Scientific before becoming an Executive Assistant in the legal department of AT&T in Basking Ridge, New Jersey for many years. She had an exceptional eye for detail and excelled at her work.
Laura had a quick wit and appreciated humor on good days and bad. She loved fashion and was a skilled seamstress, making clothes, Halloween costumes, drapes and window treatments, quilts, and furniture coverings for her family throughout her life. She enjoyed ceramics with her neighbors on Ricker Road. She was a gifted cook and baker, after being taught by her beloved sister-in-law, Lena Lacatena. Laura and Nicholas hosted many family pool parties and holiday celebrations and welcomed all to her home.
She taught her family well and was a generous wealth of knowledge.
Laura loved the seaside: the New Jersey shore, Bermuda’s pink sand coves, South Carolina’s many beaches, and Florida’s gulf coast with its soft sand. She was an avid camper and traveled all over the United States with her family in their truck and trailer. She also loved: traveling with family and friends around the world, a sunny day on a screened porch, the sweet smell of gardenias, a home full of guests, and quiet evenings with her husband, Nicholas. She raised bountiful gardens of vegetables, herbs, and flowers and kept Nicholas busy with painting the house in the latest color palettes.
And Laura loved Nicholas very, very much. They first met in 1961 and were smitten ever after. They were rarely, if ever, apart.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either of the following:
https://www.johnstonhealthfoundation.org/home/make-a-donation/ (choose the Hospice Fund)
A Celebration of Life will be held on January 2nd, 2027 in New Jersey, location to be announced.