Ipswich - Ipswich - Laura E. Smith (Hallstrom), age 67, of Ipswich, formerly of Lynnfield, died Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Laura was surrounded by family and friends after a brief battle with Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.

Laurie was born on September 12, 1957, in Melrose, MA to Nance and Robert Hallstrom of Lynnfield, MA. Laura grew up in Lynnfield and later graduated from Lynnfield High School Class of 1975. Laurie went on to receive her BS and MS degrees from Salem State University. Laura was an enthusiastic and dedicated teacher for 24 years for Grades 3,4 & 5 in the Gloucester MA public school district. She loved teaching and created lasting friendships with many of her colleagues. She was always proud of her students. There were always big hugs when seeing them in later years.

Laura was fun loving and had a close group of friends who did everything together, especially skiing and camping in New Hampshire (White Mountains) and Maine (Acadia), and biking on Cape Cod (with a stop at PB Boulangerie for meringue). Laura loved to dance. If there was a dance floor and music, Laura could always be found there with her friends dancing away. Laura loved being outside, often spending long hours weeding and planting in her gardens. She gave special attention to the monarch butterflies who visited her yard and grew patches of milkweed to feed them on their travels. When the weather turned nice, she could be found behind the wheel of her boat drifting down Fox Creek, flying across Crane's Beach on the way over to the Annisquam River or tied up on Choate Island to start a day of hiking on the island. Traveling the world was a passion of Laura's, visiting US National Parks, Asia and Europe on numerous occasions. She was also a voracious reader going through three books a week. She often read to her grandchildren, getting them hooked at an early age. Sewing and knitting was another one of her favorite things to do, making Halloween costumes for Alex and Katie when they were growing up and sweaters or mittens for her grandkids. We'll all miss her apple pies and cheesecake.

Laura will always be remembered as a kind and thoughtful person who enjoyed sending birthday, anniversary, and holiday cards to her family and friends. She was generous with her time, often acting as a caregiver to those in need. Her family was her number one priority and she will be forever loved and missed.

Laurie was the beloved wife of Stephen Kelleher of Ipswich who met each other as teenagers, while instructing at a camp in Boxford, MA. Laura is survived by her son Alexander Smith and Jocelyn Zybert of Newburyport, MA and daughter Katelyn Novotny (Smith) and Christopher Novotny of Ipswich. Laura is also survived by four grandchildren, whom she adored, Charlotte Novotny, Ivy Novotny, Stevie Smith and Oliver Smith. Laura was close to her brother Craig Hallstrom and his wife Kathy of Orleans, MA. Laura also leaves behind her aunt June Pottle, Carl and Deborah Smith of Rochester, NY, and cousins Reba and Lisa Pottle. Laura always enjoyed the company of her in-laws, John Kelleher Jr. and Jane Beck of Key West, FL, Jeanne Phillips, Reading, MA, and Kevin and Kathy Kelleher of New Castle, NH.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923 who provided needed comfort during her final days or the Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation, 3634 W Market St, Akron, OH 44333. A celebration of Laura's life will be announced at a future date. Arrangements by the Campbell Funeral Home, 6 High Street, Ipswich. Information and condolences at www.campbellfuneral.com