Laurel Suzan Hall
It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our beloved friend and family member, Laurel Suzan Hall, on February 25th. Laurel was a cherished part of the Santa Barbara community, always bringing kindness, warmth, and a passion for friendship. She touched the lives of many, and her presence will be deeply missed.
Laurel was the only daughter to Lawrence Joseph Hall and May Ruth (Malz) Hall and she is survived by distant cousins in AZ, NY, TX and France.
Laurel was originally from New York and arrived in California in the late 1940’s. Though she always spoke fondly of Suffern, New York, she made her life in Santa Barbara. Her neighbors enjoyed hearing stories of New York and the “glory” days of Santa Barbara.
She was active around Santa Barbara enjoying its many festivals and parades and would venture on the bus just about anywhere. She also loved walking downtown and would be out and about almost everyday in her colorful clothes and lovely wide-brimmed hat. She was a fixture at many local shops.
She was a talented gardener whose front and back lawns were filled with so many flowers that the grass eventually disappeared. She enjoyed trading seeds and annually would collect the seeds from her Five O’Clock flowers to save for the next season. Her favorite place in the garden was under her orange tree. She loved that tree and always generously offered oranges to her neighbors.
She enjoyed taking pictures, especially of nature and still life photos. An avid reader, her weekly trips to the local library were also a place of companionship. Her letter writing was always a joy to her family and friends and she loved getting letters, postcards and photos from her contacts.
Laurel was also a music lover with many talented musicians in her extended family.
A memorial service is being planned, and we will reach out to those that may want to attend once plans are finalized. If interested, please consider making a donation in her honor to either the Santa Barbara Public Library, Habitat for Humanity or the Humane Society.