I am writing this to inform all who knew and loved Lori that she lost her 5 1/2 year battle with cancer recently. And battle she did, bravely, always maintaining hope until the end. She had a simple but strong spiritual base and did not fear death. She is clearly in a better place now. She is survived by myself, her husband Jim of 21 years, her sisters Connie and Cheri and niece Zella. She considered my five grandchildren hers as well, and loved and adored Ethan, Ellie, Aiden, Olive, and Ada. They all referred to her as Nana Lori , as did my son Jim and his wife Sarah, and my daughter Melissa and her husband Jim. Nothing brought her more joy than to facetime with the kids or receive one of their colorful drawings. She graduated from Lockport Central High School in Illinois, and while still in her twenties she had already beaten cancer once, and had graduaded from Kendall College in Chicago with a Chef Certification. She gained experience in all phases of the restaurant business and began enjoying a diversification of wines from around the world. After five more years of work in wine sales and much reading and studying, she passed the second level exam with honors, becoming a Certified Sommelier, granted by the prestigious Court of Master Sommeliers. She was truly a foodie, who took us to countless venues in Chicago, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, LasVegas, Phoenix and Napa. And as family and friends know, she was an excellent home chef as well.
Her warm, kind, loving spirit will be missed by many, including those who worked with her in wine departments , and by her three rescue kitties. Love, Jim