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Laurel St. James, 76, died unexpectedly, at home in White River Jct. on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.

She was born July 3, 1949, in Bradford, VT a daughter of Leon D. and Jeanette (Benoit) St. James. Laurel grew up in White River Jct. and following her graduation from Hartford High School she began working at Dartmouth Medical School in Hanover, NH.  After a time, she decided to travel around the country, living in California and later in Minnesota where she pursued a Bachelors Degree in Horticulture at the University of Minnesota. She and her former husband adopted Jesse, a child with autism from Korea, in 1986 and Laurel has spent most of her life since caring and advocating for him. The family lived in Damariscotta, ME for ten years before moving to St. Johnsbury in 1998 and lived there until she and Jesse moved to White River Jct. earlier this year. Laurel was excited to be back in her hometown and reconnect with her roots.

Laurel was very active in her community wherever she lived, including countless hours volunteering and advocating for people with special needs. Most recently, she was a steady volunteer in the gift shop at Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital.

She is predeceased by her parents and her brothers Michael and Ronald St. James.

Laurel leaves her son, Jesse Long of White River Jct.; a brother Robert St. James (Jennifer) of Enfield, NH; sisters, Donna Sullivan (Steve Lumm) of Santa Barbara, CA and Linda St. James of Arroyo Grande, CA. as well as many nieces and nephews.

There will be a Time of Remembrance on Saturday, September 13, 2025, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM, at Knight Funeral Home, 903 Hartford Avenue, White River Junction, VT.

Donations in her remembrance may be made to Visions for Creative Housing Solutions, www.visionsnh.org, or Heifer International, www.heifer.org.