A Child of the Ocean State and Mother of Three

Firmly set between the eastern border of Connecticut and the western heel to the boot of Massachusetts, Edward and Terry Renzi raised a family. Their youngest was a boy named Brian. Their eldest was a daughter of good humor and strong will named Laurie. 

Laurie Fitts (nee Renzi) came of age in the latter part of the 20th century as a citizen of the Ocean State. She was gifted with an attention to detail and an organized mind. Growing into an adult, Laurie gravitated to roles that showcased these strengths. Manager, bookkeeper and some retail, but eventually she would be promoted to the toughest job there is – mother. 

Laurie’s husband, Nathan Fitts, explained, “When the kids started to come, she quit her job and was a stay-at-home mom. I worked a lot, and she basically raised the kids on her own when they were young. She is a great mother – always attentive and caring.”

It seems a universal truth – warm, kind moms often are lovers of animals as well.  Laurie was no exception to that idea. She worked for a time at an animal hospital where she was able to marry her strengths in management with her big heart for four-legged friends. Her family would eventually include a couple of dogs, a cat, some chickens and two pigs!

Laurie and Nathan met working together. And though their story was not necessarily a straight line from first date to wedding bells, it did develop into love, marriage, and three beautiful children.

Laurie’s oldest, a son named Logan, was born after the turn of the millennium. Four years later, another boy, Collin, followed and finally a daughter, Gianna, a couple of years after that. The kids would be active in sports and over the years the family would find joy and connection watching them play. 

Nathan said, “Laurie helps to keep me grounded. We have different personalities. Whereas I’m a very social and outgoing type, she can be more reserved. But over the years, simple things like having dinner together or watching the kids play football and volleyball became what we looked forward to. She has done so many things for our family that have been underappreciated.

“In addition to raising the family and keeping the world of our family operating, she also has supported me with my electrical business by doing the books and keeping things organized.”

Reflecting on how he knew Laurie was the ‘one’, Nathan remarked, “I just knew. It’s the way I feel when we’re together. The days fly by so fast that I don’t always appreciate what we have together – what I have in her. I have struggled to show my love without hiding it in sarcasm or inappropriateness. I just hope she can see it, though – just how much I love her.”