Laurie Ann Wideman

Laurie Ann Wideman, 55, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 17, 2010. Laurie was born and raised in Troy, NY and was the owner of Cardinal Travel Agency in Stafford, VA from 1996-2007. Her business was awarded the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year award for 2006. It was through her travel agency that Laurie became a popular and well loved part of the Stafford and Fredericksburg communities, holding positions on many business and charity committees. As a board member on both the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Rappahannock United Way, Laurie was always impressed by the intelligence and professionalism demonstrated by her fellow board members and was grateful to be a part of their lives. Laurie served as Chairperson for the monthly Stafford Roundtable since 2001 and served on the Chamber’s transportation committee and tourism committee, the Chamber’s Networking of Enterprising Women (CNEW) committee, and the Leadership Advisory Board. Laurie was a former president of the Stafford Business Exchange and a recipient of the Donavan W. Hough Award for Excellence in Ethics and Community Service. She was selected to represent Stafford County on the Regional Tourism Task Force and served on the county’s School’s Citizen Advisory committee and Budget committee. She was a graduate of both the Dale Carnegie Communications Course and the first Fredericksburg Regional Chamber Leadership Course in 2003. Laurie was a Eucharistic Minister at St. William of York Catholic Church for several years. Laurie was most recently employed by Travel Leaders in Fredericksburg and of course, loved to travel, particularly to cruise. She was a great cook and was famous for her spaghetti sauce and cheese cakes.

She is survived by her loving husband, Frank; two daughters, Stephanie and Michelle Wideman both of Stafford; siblings, Pamela Schmidt of Melrose, NY and Timothy Clemente of Pittstown, NY; uncles, John (Carol) Clemente and Anthony (Roseanne) Clemente; aunts, Grace Clemente and Philomeno Tembellio; along with several cousins, nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her brother, Nicholas Clemente.

The family will receive friends from 1-4 PM on Sunday, October 24, 2010 at Mullins & Thompson Funeral Service, 186 Shelton Shop Road, Stafford. A funeral mass will be held at 11:30 AM on Monday, October 25, 2010 at St. William of York Catholic Church in Stafford. Interment will follow in Quantico National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Project Rachel www.arlingtondiocese.org/rachel or 1-888-456-HOPE.

Online condolences may be made at mullinthompsonstafford.com