Obituary of Laura E Gifford

Laura Elaine Gifford, age 78, of Philadelphia, PA passed away peacefully at her home in the Mount Airy neighborhood on March 3, 2025 from complications due to Alzheimer’s.  A luncheon celebration of her life will be held on May 17, 2025 at the Sunnybrook Golf Club, 398 Stenton Ave., Plymouth Meeting, PA from 11am to 2pm. The Lownes Funeral Home will be handling arrangements.

Laura was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada to Gordon and Helen Gifford on February 2, 1947.  She graduated from Outlook High School in 1965 and went on to earn an BA degree from McGill University in Montreal in 1968. Later she earned an MBA in 1988 from Temple University.

Following college, she worked at the Banff Springs Hotel and traveled throughout Europe. For many years she worked as a systems analyst for the CIGNA Insurance Company, often traveling to South America on business.  Inspired by her friends Jack and Marion McGovern, she decided to become a teacher.  In 2002 she earned a Masters Degree in Education from Arcadia University and taught in the Philadelphia Public School system for fifteen years, including at Roberto Clemente Middle School and Lowell Elementary.

Laura loved to spend time with her McGill girlfriends, especially Jennifer Barbarie and Liz Wickett, often visiting them in Italy.  She also loved the New Jersey shore, especially Strathmere, where she walked the beach and shared a glass of wine with her good friend, Cheryl Weiss.  She was quite the athlete, cross-country skiing whenever she had the chance and playing lots of tennis.  But her real passion was travel.  In 1979 she took a solo trip around the world where she cycled through Europe, sailed down the Nile, trekked in the Himalayas, visited Thailand and hiked in China.  Later she traveled to Indonesia, Patagonia, Italy, Peru, British Columbia and the Galapagos.  She made a point of collecting indigenous art works, as well as masks and textiles from many countries, displaying them in her home.

Laura is survived by her husband, Fred Dedrick, her daughter Celia, son-in-law Eric, and three grandchildren:  Percilla, Natalia and Eric.  She is also survived by brothers Lorne, Larry, Lloyd and Lynn, and their families, all of Canada.  She was preceded in death by her father, Gordon and her mother Helen, as well as her brothers, Leslie and Lee, and a sister, Lynda.

Laura loved dogs and was always dedicated to helping animals in need of support.  Memorial donations may be made in her honor to www.pspca.org/tribute- memorial-gifts.  She was also a big fan and long-time listener to WHYY,  where donations in her memory can be made to www.whyy/donate.