Lauretta (Machon) Brooks was born in December 1882 to John and Mary Machon of Murray Harbour, Prince Edward Island. She married David Brooks between 1901 and 1907 and the couple had at least two children: John (b. 1907) and Verna (b. 1910). Between 1929 and 1959, Lauretta regularly kept a diary. The original diaires, consisting of forty-two lined school scribblers, were still at the Brooks homestead in Murray Harbour in 2002. In addition to recording daily events and activities, Lauretta kept a list of deaths spanning the years 1918 to 1962.

Lauretta Machon Brooks died 10 October 1964 and is buried with her husband in the Murray Harbour South cemetery.