Obituary

Laura Ann (Garten) Wiersteiner, 92, surrounded by angels, entered eternal rest peacefully on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, after a long and brave battle with pulmonary fibrosis, normal pressure hydrocephalus and dementia. A lifelong devoted Catholic, she was strengthened by the Sacraments of the Church. Having received the Last Rites, she was gently called home to the loving embrace of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

In addition to her parents, William Hughart and Anna Pauline Garten, Laura was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Herman Wiersteiner, son, Joey Wiersteiner of Charleston, WV, and her brothers, Bill Garten of South Charleston, WV, Patrick Garten of South Charleston, WV and John Garten of Orlando, FL.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughters, Susie Lowery, Teresa (Anderson) Ansell, Mary Kay (Bobby) Cassano, and Polly (Mark) Brown. Laura was blessed with seven loving grandchildren: Ryan and Ross Anderson, Jason Lowery, Christy Cassano Adels, Megan Cassano le Roux; Nicole and Chris Wiersteiner; and nine great-grandchildren: Kylie, Kendall, Jackson, Jamie, Ryder, Arthur, Cameron, Banks, and Isabeau.

Being raised by a father that was a musician, Bill Garten, originally from Hinton, WV, created the Bill Garten Orchestra and played jazz and swing music at events in Charleston and vicinity. He worked for Appalachian Power Company by day. The Garten family home was always filled with music. Laura developed a love for music which she enjoyed her entire life. Her mother, Pauline, along with three of her sisters, were raised at the Saint Vincent’s Children’s Home in Wheeling, WV., after losing their father in the flu epidemic of 1918. After high school graduation, the nuns at the orphanage sent Pauline to nursing school at Saint Francis Hospital in Charleston, WV. She met her husband, Bill, in Charleston, got married and started a family. Pauline worked as a Registered Nurse at Saint Francis Hospital for many years.

The Garten children were raised in the Catholic church, attended St. Anthony’s Catholic School and then Charleston Catholic High School (CCHS). Being a social butterfly, Laura was a cheerleader and Irishette at CCHS. After graduation, along with her high school girlfriends, she went to work in a secretarial pool at Union Carbide. That is where she met and married the love of her life, Joe, who had also attended CCHS. After Joe returned to work at Carbide after serving in the US Army in Korea, he soon noticed the pretty girl walking to her building each morning. One rainy morning in 1953, he saw her walking in the rain, and he ran to escort her with an umbrella.

Laura soon had to leave employment at Carbide because it was policy that a woman could not remain employed once she reached six months of her pregnancy. She proceeded to have five kids in six years and was an excellent housewife and mother. She was very active with Christian Mothers, the choir and the grade school at St. Anthony’s Church. Once the children were raised, she was able to travel the country with Joe for many years while working for Carbide. They lived in Charleston, WV, Baton Rouge, LA, back to Charleston, WV, Spring, TX, South Charleston, WV, Houston, TX, Myrtle Beach, SC and finally in Charleston, WV.

Laura’s upbringing influenced the way she raised her own five children in the Catholic Church and grade school and in a house filled with music, laughter and fun. She enjoyed singing with her kids at home and on road trips. Her girlfriends were very important to her, and she loved planning picnics/reunions and working on fundraisers like creating church cookbooks, bake sales, bazaars, etc. She was involved with the ladies at the church in sending care packages filled with essentials from home to troops in Vietnam in the 1960s. Laura was always involved in something and was happiest when she was among friends talking and laughing. It didn’t matter where she was or who she was with, she had a wonderful time. Laura was described as “a party looking for a place to happen”. She loved to dance and sing and visit with everyone. She did not know a stranger. Her two lifelong best friends were June Haid and Mary Agnes Keener and they can tell some good stories.

Laura’s daughters would like to thank the Sisters of the Child Jesus from Sacred Heart church for visiting Laura and bringing communion for many years. Her time at the Complete Care of Oak Ridge Healthcare long-term care facility will never be forgotten. Laura fell in love with every employee who cared for her, and they fell in love with her. Laura’s daughters would like to thank the administrator, social workers, activities staff, kitchen staff, nursing staff and everyone who showed kindness to Laura over the years. The family would also like to thank the caregivers who came to Laura’s home, Beth Lyons, Ebony Rivas, and Priscilla Waddy.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. March 17, 2026, at the Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Charleston, with the Rev. Fr. Prakash Kerketta officiating. The Homily and Committal ceremony will be performed by Deacon Michael Kawash. Laura’s ashes will be entombed at Donel C. Kinnard Memorial Veteran’s Cemetery in Dunbar, WV at 2:00 p.m.

Visitation will be from 9:30am – 11:00am at the church.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Sacred Heart SMILE fund for the Sisters of the Child Jesus. Checks should be made payable to Sacred Heart and mailed to Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral, 1114 Virginia St. E., Charleston, WV 25301. Please note on memo line “SMILE – IMO Laura Wiersteiner.” Alternatively, donations can be made to the Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Association.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.barlowbonsall.com.

Barlow Bonsall Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.