BOOTHBAY - Laura Jean Rittall, 41, passed away at her home with her family by her side on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2004, after a courageous battle with breast cancer. She was born in Winchester, Mass., on Oct. 12, 1963, the daughter of Matthew John and Judith (Mahoney) Andrews. Laura was a graduate of Cony High School in Augusta, class of 1981. She graduated from the University of Southern Maine with a bachelor's degree in nursing. Laura's desire to become a nurse was a childhood dream. She worked at MaineGeneral Medical Center in the maternal and child health department (what Laura called the 'Happy Floor') for more than 13 years before retiring due to her progressing illness. She truly enjoyed her co-workers and considered them to be her extended family. Laura was a spirited individual with a tremendous imagination and lots of energy. Her spirited nature brought out the best in everyone. She loved entertaining around the holidays, especially Halloween with the 'Hay Rides' on the family's Salt River farm in Boothbay. She was an avid gardener and also enjoyed serving up ice cream, her own strawberry jam and home-baked goods at the farm stand which she and her husband operated for many years. Until her last days, Laura was a strong advocate for breast cancer awareness. Laura was predeceased by her father, Matthew John Andrews. She is survived by her husband, Scott Rittall of Boothbay; her mother and stepfather, Judith and James O'Mara of Jonesport; her brother, Sean Andrews and his wife, Kimberly, of Shrewsbury, Mass.; her sister, Kathryn Dyer and her friend, Mark Reagan, of Danvers, Mass.; her stepbrother, James O'Mara and his wife, Heidi, of North Andover, Mass.; her stepsisters, Mary O'Mara of Farmingdale and Elizabeth Houghton and her husband, Walter, of Londonderry, N.H.; her mother and father-in-law, Joan and Chetley Rittall of Boothbay; her sister-in-law, Susan Papineau of Boothbay Harbor; her aunt, Carol Andrews Hovis of Costa Rica; and her nieces and nephews, Haley Marie Dyer, Amber Rose and Matthew Sean Andrews, and Nathan and Brian Papineau. Relatives and friends are invited for a time of remembrance from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Knowlton & Hewins Funeral Home, 1 Church St., Augusta. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Mary of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church, Western Avenue, Augusta, with the Rev. Brian Blanchette, celebrant. Committal prayers and burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, U.S. Route 202, Manchester. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Laura's memory to MaineGeneral Medical Center, c/o Philanthropy Office, 30 Chase Ave., Waterville 04901, to benefit the maternal and child health department at the Augusta campus.