Lifelong learner, Claremonter for 57 years

“It is with a heavy heart for our family that we announce our beloved Laurie Finnegan ended her journey in life just after sunset on January 10, 2024,” her family said. “Laurie passed away at her home in Claremont unexpectedly after a short illness with pneumonia. She was 65 years old.”

Laurie started her life journey just after sunrise on March 27, 1958. She was born at the Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the second of five children to Barbara and Jim Finnegan. The family of seven lived on Miracle Lane in Minnetonka, Minnesota until 1967, when her father took a job transfer with the Pillsbury company and relocated to a home on Northwestern Drive in Claremont. The family enjoyed 40 years in the same home with wonderful neighbors. Later she lived on St. Bonaventure Avenue, in a home she owned for 40 years.

She attended Claremont schools, including Mountain View Elementary, Our Lady of Assumption Catholic School, El Roble Intermediate, and was a member of the Claremont High School class of 1976. She also attended Citrus College, graduating in 1979 with degrees in EMT and medical assisting. She also trained at UCLA in the school’s “brainwaves” program.

She spent 45 years as an EEG tech for Dr. Liegler, Dr. Amorosi, Dr. Glatstein and Dr. Kaiserman at San Gabriel Valley Neurological in West Covina. She retired when the office closed.

She had an abundance of friends, including lifelong friends so dear as to be counted as family. Eagles Lodge, book clubs, church groups, bunco and bingo were favorite events in her life. The family also had vacation homes in Mt. Baldy, Cathedral City, California, and Red Lake, Minnesota, where she enjoyed many adventures. Some of her favorite things included cooking, cats, books, flowers, the Minnesota Vikings football team, lemon meringue pie and pizza.

“Everybody has their own journey with grief,” her family added. “Laurie would say, ‘Go for a hike, fly a kite, go to church, just keep moving and show love and kindness along the way.’”

She was preceded in death by her parents Barbara and Jim Finnegan.

She is survived by her daughter Amy Clagg, of Claremont; grandson Shayler Bauman, of Claremont; brothers Jim (Sue) Finnegan, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Mike (Becky) Finnegan, of Bemidji, Minnesota; sisters Wendy Finnegan, of Bemidji, Minnesota, and Julie (Stuart) Landgreen, of Claremont; her best friend for more than 25 years, Rick Maziak, of Glendora; nephews Mark, Patrick, Bryan, and Jackson; nieces Erin and Riley; Seventeen cherished cousins; godmother Aunt Kathleen Finnegan, of Austin, Minnesota; and many lifelong friends, including the Wheeler and Rodriquez families, of Claremont. Lastly, her faithful friend, her cat “Quinny.”

Services were held January 23 at Todd Memorial Chapel in Pomona, followed by a reception at Espiau’s in Claremont.

Interment was at Bethany Memorial Hall and Cemetery Association in Shotly, Minnesota.