Laura (Schmid) Hogan

Laura (Schmid) Hogan, 99, of Woburn, previously of Stoneham and West Medford, passed away peacefully on October 24, 2022. Laura was born on April 9, 1923 on a small family farm in Atwood Kansas to Eva (Haller) and Martin Schmid; she was the 6^th daughter and 4^th youngest of 15 children.  She attended Atwood schools and the University of Kansas at Lawrence where she met Daniel (Bill) Hogan. They were married for 63 years until his death in 2010.  Laura and Bill had five children and lived for many years in West Medford where they were active in their church community, especially as leaders of the Catholic Youth Organization.  They sponsored yearly Schrafft’s chocolate sales and minstrel shows to support the organization’s sports, social, and religious activities. Laura received the Pro Deo Et Juventude (for God and Youth) Award from the Boston Catholic Diocese in 1959 for her dedication to young people. Laura was also active in St. Raphael’s Sodality, was a Girl Scout leader, and chaired several mother’s clubs including those at Arlington Catholic High School and Regis College.  

Laura is remembered as an incredibly capable woman.  She could upholster a chair, sew draperies, hang wallpaper, run a fundraiser, or provide a listening ear and supportive hand.  She had an impressive green thumb and loved to garden, perhaps a legacy of her early farm life.  She designed and sewed countless wedding and baptismal gowns for her daughters, nieces, and friends. Laura wrote about her life in the autobiography “I, Laura” in which she discussed growing up in a large extended family and its impact on her work ethic and generous nature. Bill and Laura traveled extensively in the US, the Caribbean and the Pacific, South America, Asia, and Europe. Extended summer trips to Kansas were a special joy for Laura and her family. 

When Bill accepted the superintendency of the Stoneham Public Schools in 1970, they moved to Stoneham where they resided between 1972 and 2020.  There, Laura established a thriving real estate business, at first, as an independent broker naming her company Schmid Real Estate. She eventually joined the Realty World franchise and subsequently became an ERA affiliate.  Laura’s Realty World business received both national and international recognition. Laura was President of the Eastern Middlesex Board of Realtors, as well as a long-time board member and realtor of the year. Laura remained active in real estate into her 90s selling countless homes in metropolitan Boston.   Again, she and Bill were active community volunteers.  Laura served on the Board of Directors of New England Memorial Hospital. She and Bill were founding members of the Stoneham Chamber of Commerce, serving as president and board members for many years.  In 1994, she and Bill were named Citizens of the Year by that organization. She was also active at St. Patrick’s Church serving on the fund-raising committee for an extensive sanctuary renovation.  Laura was honored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boston with the Chevrus Medal in 2009 and 2017.  

Laura was predeceased by her parents, her husband and by her 14 brothers and sisters.  She leaves her children Mary Fiore (Jules) Godes, Margaret (Raymond) Langelier, Daniel (Patricia) Hogan, Joseph (Karen Thursby) Hogan, and Timothy (Diane) Hogan.  She is survived by 10 grandchildren William (Laurie) Fiore, Julie Langelier (Christian) Yunker, Kate Langelier (J Thomas) Dupree, Mary Margaret Langelier, Daniel (Hannah) Hogan-Rigg, Jacqueline Hogan (Christopher) Warren, Nicholas (Cristy Lonardo) Hogan, Matthew Hogan, Kerry Hogan (Darren) Kondas, and Kaitlyn Hogan.  She leaves 8 great grandchildren including Ryan and Abigail Fiore, Riley, Maisie, and Delia Yunker, Mason Dupree, Benjamin Warren, and Brooke Lynn Kondas.  In addition, she leaves hundreds of nieces and nephews and a remaining sister-in-law, Mary Schmid.  

The family would like to thank the staff at New Horizons at Choate for their loving and compassionate care of Laura.

Family and friends are kindly invited to gather and share memories with the family on Friday October 28, 2022 in the Barile Family Funeral Home 482 Main St. (RT28) STONEHAM from 3 pm to 7 pm.  Parking attendants and elevator available.  Funeral Mass Celebrating Laura’s Eternal Life will be held on Saturday October 29, 2022 in St. Patrick’s Church 71 Central Stoneham at 11 am. Please go directly to the church. Interment will follow at St. Patrick’s Cemetery,  Stoneham. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Laura S. Hogan Scholarship Fund, St. Patrick’s School, c/o Mrs. Susanne Bromander, 71 Central Street, Stoneham, MA 02180 or to the Daniel W. Hogan Jr. Scholarship Fund, Stoneham High School, c/o Mrs. Robin Yeomelakis, 149 Franklin Street, Stoneham, MA 02180.