Aptos, California

Laura Keefe Junod passed away peacefully at home on January 8, 2025, surrounded by family, after a courageous 2½-year journey with metastatic breast cancer.

Born on July 19, 1963, at Marin General Hospital, Laura was the beloved third child of Robert and Joan Keefe. From a young age she had a smile and laugh that were the hallmark of her life. A fourth-generation San Franciscan and Marin County resident, Laura grew up in Larkspur, where she developed a lifelong love of sailing on the Larkspur Lagoon, Tinsley Island, and the San Francisco waterfront at the St. Francis Yacht Club. She graduated from Redwood High School in 1981 and went on to study Economics at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC).

At UCSC, Laura met her future husband, Mark Junod, in 1983. A member of the UCSC Sailing Team, Laura was proud to have been part of the team that won the Intercollegiate National Championship in 1985, triumphing over Stanford. She was forever proud the Banana Slugs beat Stanford!

Laura and Mark married in 1988 at the Hollins House in Pasatiempo. While raising her two sons, Will and Lucas, Laura was intimately involved in their education by volunteering in their classrooms, sports teams as well as fundraising for their schools and other events.

Laura’s professional career included roles in Human Resources at Graniterock in Watsonville, where she contributed to significant initiatives such as the Individual Professional Development Plan and the company’s receipt of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. She later worked alongside Mark in their mortgage business for over two decades.

Combining her professional skills with her passions for travel, history, architecture, and French culture, Laura launched a tour directing business, leading small group tours in Paris and throughout France, as well as local tours in San Francisco, Carmel, and Capitola Village. Her guests often described her tours as “the trip of a lifetime.”

Laura’s hobbies included hiking in Yosemite, long walks, traveling to Hawaii and France, and researching her genealogy. She proudly achieved Italian citizenship and, with Mark, hosted dozens of Rotary Youth Exchange students and other worldwide travelers. Laura passionately managed the design and construction of their home in Seascape, and when she spent time in her flower garden she glowed with joy.

Laura is survived by her husband, Mark; her sons, Will and Lucas Junod; her brother, Ken Keefe (Kerry); her sister, Linda Berlinger (Bruce); and many other relatives and friends who will miss her dearly. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Joan Keefe. Laura was deeply grateful for the loving support of her sister-in-law Michele Ridgeway during her cancer journey.

Laura was proud to have participated in the Inavolisib trial, which is transforming breast cancer treatment.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Metastatic Breast Cancer Research

[http://inmemoryoflaura.stanford.edu/]

A Celebration of Laura’s Life will be held on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at 3 p.m. at Seascape Resort, 1 Seascape Resort Dr., Aptos, CA 95003.

Laura’s legacy of love, kindness, travel, joy, and laughter will forever live on in the hearts of those who knew her. She will be deeply missed but never forgotten.