Lauren L. Akins

Our sweet soul, Lauren L. Akins, 68, passed away suddenly of natural causes on June 7, 2022, with family by her side in Lexington, SC. Although Lauren led the most beautiful life filled with love and laughter, her life feels unfinished to the ones that will miss her every step of the way. 

Lauren was born on September 6, 1953 to her late parents Edward and Rose Waryas. She was raised in Plainville, CT with her four siblings in “the red house”. She was described as “the cutest little sister ever” and made quite the Little Miss Sunbeam. She was a member of Our Lady of Mercy and had a natural talent for music and dance; performing in school plays and cheer squad with her older sister. She went on to Graduate from Plainville High School in 1971 then proceeded to Southern Connecticut State University where she graduated in 1975 with a degree in Psychology. She blessed a few companies with her presence, made friends along the way, and retired from Wheeler Clinic where her kids called her twenty times a day.

On May 26, 1973, while celebrating her sister’s college graduation at Dial Tone Dance Club in Southington, Lauren met the love of her life, Lee Akins. While dating, they enjoyed traveling to the mountains in Virginia and North Carolina. They always held a special spot in their hearts for Skyline Drive and the Blueridge Parkway. Whether enjoying one of the five John Denver concerts they attended, playing tennis or skiing, they had a ball along the way. They wed October 1, 1977 and shortly after they welcomed their children Kelly and Ian.

Lauren enjoyed music, camping and loved Grey Fox and Podunk bluegrass festivals. She was always down for a road trip. Her two favorite musicians were her husband, Lee and her son, Ian. Listening to them play guitar and sing at a campsite or at an open mic (with a lemon drop martini in hand) was her true happy place. Her sense of humor and inside jokes (some in song form) were unsurpassed. She loved being outdoors in general, going for hikes and walks, especially with her daughter Kelly and their dogs. Lauren’s family was her life and she adored every second with her granddaughter, Monroe. They went to stables, went swimming, for walks and talked frequently about elephants, horsies and the heart of Te Fiti. 

Throughout the years she had many fur children and even fostered dogs in retirement. She was a vegetarian, famous for saving bugs and even nursing a baby animal back to health. 

She leaves behind her beloved husband of 44 years, Lee Akins; her daughter, Kelly Zang and her husband Jerry and their daughter River Monroe and her son Ian Akins; her fur babies Sawyer, Dolly, Midnight and Callisto; her siblings Edward Waryas, Debbi Oparowski and her husband Joe, Janice Waryas and Jacki Andelin and her husband Mark; her brother and sister in laws Glenn Akins, Lisa Nadeau and Lynda Fite; and her granddaughters Halina and Carolina Vidal. She was predeceased by loved ones lost along the way including Linda Akins, Pam Waryas and John Lumpkin & Harriet McCormick. Lauren also leaves behind many other close family and friends that will truly miss her. 

Calling hours will be on a later date at Plainville Funeral home and then funeral to follow at Our Lady of Mercy Church. Lauren will be laid to rest in Plainville, CT where she spent most of her life.   Barr-Price Funeral Home and Crematorium is assisting the family. If you would like to make a memorial in her name to a cause she felt strongly about, please do so to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org) or Great Divide Animal Rescue (www.greatdivideanimalrescue.org).

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