Lauretta Ann Macdonald (nee Simicic, formerly Kronauge) passed away peacefully on October 7th, 2024 at the age of 88 at the de Greeff Hospice House in St. Louis.

Dear mother of Cindy Kronauge (Dean Allison), Julia Conway, Lisa (Ted) Orf, Roy Kronauge, and Channing Kronauge.  Loving grandmother to Bill (Hannah) Orf; Jim (Kelsey) Orf and Joseph Orf; Maggie Olivia; Spencer, Noah, Griffin and Sydney Kronauge.  GGMac to Henry, Calvin, Lyla, Jolie, J.R., Graham and Briar.  Baba Laurie to Nick and Andrew Rubin.

Loving sister of Mary Ann McMillian, cherished aunt of John (Debbie) Poldan, Mike (Chris) Poldan, Mary (Eric) Swanson, and Cathy (Jeff) Sickels.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Roy Kronauge and David Macdonald, her brother and sister-in-law John & Lee Poldan, her brother-in-law Tom McMillian and her grandson, Danny Orf.

Laurie was born to immigrant parents from Croatia, Frank & Julia Simicic, and grew up on Hickory Street in South St. Louis.  She was proud of her heritage and kept up with several of the culinary traditions especially making nut strudel (Potica) every holiday season.  She graduated from McKinley High School in 1954.

She worked for a time at the Jefferson Hotel and later for many years for Marriott Hotels in banquets.

She loved all things sports, but especially baseball and as a child went to many games with her father at Sportsman’s Park and also loved attending Cardinal games. Some of her best times were spent with her family at the Lake of the Ozarks.  She also enjoyed traveling with her husband, David.

Laurie was also a voracious reader, a lover of pottery, an admirer of thistles and poppies and an avid collector of pigs with wings.

Laurie made friends with anyone she met.  She had a knack for talking to you about anything and had a dry and witty sense of humor.  She was a strong and resilient woman and raised her five kids to be the same.  She will be dearly missed.

In her honor, grab a pretzel danish at Missouri Bakery, go to Ted Drewes for a Fox Treat, or make a visit to the Botanical Gardens, which were some of her favorite things.