Leslie Alice van Laer Fitzsimmons

Leslie Alice van Laer Fitzsimmons, age 58 of Murrieta CA, passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 9, 2023.

She was born to Marilyn van Laer and Charles van Laer on December 9, 1964, in Smithtown NY and grew up in Cherry Hill New Jersey.

Leslie had a sense of adventure which took her from New York to Germany, Kentucky, and eventually California where she stayed to raise her two children, Madison and Connor Fitzsimmons.

Leslie was a homemaker who took great pride in her children and their home.  She was a remarkable storyteller and would create fairytales out of thin air to share with her children and their friends.  Her favorite time of year was Christmas where she could be seen decorating the house with endless trees and lights; cooking a feast from scratch; and dancing the night away to Elvis Presley’s Christmas Album.  She was a free spirit with a huge heart and tons of love to give.

She was in a loving relationship with her boyfriend of several years, Justin Wood, who could always make her laugh and smile.  They traveled the US together and enjoyed spending time in the beautiful forests of Tennessee.

Leslie requested a burial at her family’s plot in Cold Spring, NY where she will lay to rest amongst the sounds of chirping birds in the Hudson Valley with her beloved family.