Lori Wanner

Lori Wanner, 51, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, daughter and sister, passed away Feb. 11, 2011.

Lori was born May 13, 1959, in Colorado to Mike and Pat Gaughen. She moved several times with her family before graduating from Glendora High School in 1977.

She found her way back to Colorado when she was hired as a database administrator with Martin Marietta. It was this job that led her to her husband and love of her life, Rick. Lori welcomed Rick’s son Ryan into her life as if he was her own, and she married Rick in 1984.

A year later, the family welcomed their son James. Two years later Gennavieve was born, and soon after Lori entered her next job, that of a full-time mother and homemaker. Lori lived her life for her children. She was at every game and school event. She was involved in every aspect of their lives.

The family relocated to Yardley, Penn., in 1993. They enjoyed their time back east exploring the area with trips including a trip to New York City for Rick and Lori’s 10th wedding anniversary and a trip to Washington, D.C., with their children.

Lori founded a small business in the housecleaning industry in 1995 upon the family’s return to the Denver area. Jim and Genna were her pride and joy and she traveled the country supporting Jim’s sports teams and coaching Genna in her cheerleading endeavors. She never missed her chance to cheer them on as their biggest fan. It was also there that she discovered a hidden talent for scrapbooking and card making. She delighted her family and friends with homemade cards for every holiday, birthday and life event.

In 2001, the Wanners headed south to Chandler, Ariz., after Rick accepted a new position. The family made lifelong friends there, and Lori took great pride in decorating and maintaining what would be her favorite of the family’s homes. During this time, Lori’s loving heart and charitable nature led her to take in to their home a friend of Jim’s who needed support during a tumultuous time.

After two years, Rick returned to Lockheed Martin and the family once again found their way to Denver. Lori’s loving, caring personality led to her calling as a home aide, taking care of the elderly and disabled. This was the perfect job for her, as one of the things she was best at was taking care of people.

A master of the kitchen, Lori delighted in recreating, and usually bettering, dishes they discovered at some of their favorite restaurants. However, her true inner culinary artist shined when it came to making cakes. Her diligent research and skilled hand ensured cakes for her beloved children and grandchildren flawlessly portrayed their favorite cartoon character, action hero or toy. Wedding cakes were also part of her repertoire, and she made the most beautiful cake for their 25th wedding anniversary.

Lori was passionate about her garden. Each year she removed all of the old flowers and replaced them with new ones, adding grandeur of color to the front and back yards. She also took pleasure in harvesting some of the flowers so that the family could enjoy their beauty and aroma indoors as well.

Lori, the glue that held everyone together, has set forth on a new path that God has envisioned for her.

She loved her family more than anything and she is dearly missed by everyone whose lives she touched, especially her husband Rick; her children Jim, Genna, Ryan and his wife Jennifer; her grandchildren Julia and Victoria; her parents, Mike and Pat Gaughen; and her siblings, Michael, Nancy, Karen and Judy.