Rensselaer-Laura A. Kross, 83 of Rensselaer passed away peacefully Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at home surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Albany and lived her entire life in Rensselaer. She was a graduate of Van Rensselaer High School. Laura was a homemaker for many years while raising her children working part-time as a waitress, which she enjoyed very much. She than started her professional career at Key Trust Company as an investor becoming a top performer throughout her career. After her retirement Laura worked part-time at Walmart as she so enjoyed staying active and being around people. Laura devoted her life to her family and friends. She was a woman of faith, generosity and love. An amazing mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and "Mama Kross" to so many. Mom could light up a room just by walking into it. Laura was a devoted member of St. John's the Evangelist Church in Rensselaer and a member of the Rensselaer Eagles #4446 Ladies Auxiliary. Laura was predeceased by her husband of 59 years Kenneth Kross. Her parents Edward and Helen Heck. Two sisters Joan Nash and Dolores Hill and a brother John (Brud ) Heck. A loving mother to Denise (Lee Ann) Dougherty, Debbie (Fred) Cotugno, Donna (David) Sorel and a stepson David (Lynn) Lanahan. Grandmother of Kevin (June), Samantha, and Kyle Dougherty, Dan, Doug, and Luke Cotugno, Laura (Shelby) and Bryan Niemiec. Great Grandmother to Jaedyn, Miley, Quinn and Lochlan. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Funeral will be from the W.J. Lyons Jr. Funeral Home 1700 Washington Avenue Rensselaer Wednesday morning at 9:00 and 10:00 at St. John the Evangelist St. Joseph Church Herrick Street, Rensselaer where the Liturgy of Christian Death and Burial will be offered. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the funeral home Tuesday from 4-8 PM. Interment will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, East Greenbush. The family wishes to extend gratitude to the nurses of Community Hospice and The Eddy for the wonderful care and love shown to our mother. In lieu of flowers, the family request that contributions in her memory may be made to St. John's the Evangelist Church 53 Herrick Street, Rensselaer, NY 12144.