Lori Ann Hale
September 28, 1960 - May 10, 2007
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Lori Ann Hale
September 28, 1960 - May 10, 2007
Obituary
Lori Ann Caruso Hale, born on September 28, 1960, died peacefully at her home on Thursday, May 10, 2007, surrounded by her family and loved ones. Lori had battled breast and thyroid cancer since 1998. Recently the cancer spread into Lori’s lungs and quickly into her brain. Lori wanted to make sure to express a special thanks to her caregiver buddies over the last several years; Dr. Dave Okun, Dr. Nora Evans, Phyllis Martin, and her City of Hope pals Dr. Steve Forman and Barb Stehr. All of them helped make her life better and longer.
Lori was born in New York and moved to California at a young age. Later in life she became a very successful cosmetologist in Hollywood and Los Angeles before pursuing a career helping hundreds of people with alcoholism, cocaine addiction, and severe mental health problems. One of her daily goals was to make someone else’s life better in whatever way possible and there are legions of people who will confirm she was successful. Lori was an active member of St. Kilian’s Catholic Parish in Mission Viejo and enjoyed her involvement with the Pastoral Council, her friends Father Jim and Scotty, and all her Bible study and weekly Rosary pals. Lori made two pilgrimages to Lourdes, France, with the Knights of Malta, one as a Malade and the next year as a volunteer.
Her family was her life and her life was her family. She enjoyed a wonderful relationship with her sister Jackie. Her other sister, Karen, was Lori’s constant nursing buddy during some of her toughest medical challenges, including the Hospice care she received at home. She had a special relationship with her father Ed and mom Ruth. Her nephews Shay, Ryan, and Josh made her giggle constantly. Her lifetime friend Patti had a special place in her heart and soul that is beyond description. Her pals Anna, Karen McCartney, Linda Muhonen, La La Gretchen, and Kristen The Tornado always made her feel special and loved the way friends are supposed to in good times and bad. Lori also had parent and teacher friends and supporters too numerous to name individually at Serra Catholic School and Santa Margarita Catholic High School.
Lori and Bill were married in June 1990 and had two beautiful daughters, Erynn, 15, and Katy, 11. Her Girls, as she often referred to them, became Lori’s passion, joy and meaning in life. She taught them fashion, grooming, homework shortcuts, cooking, laughing, the importance of friendships, and the value of faith and a strong belief in God. Lori loved Erynn and Katy at a level and depth that only mothers understand. Their smiles and laughter often made Lori’s entire day happy and worthwhile in spite of her constant battles with cancer. Her 17-year marriage to Bill was filled with fun and the joy of raising two strong-willed children and overcoming hundreds of different challenges while sharing the intimacy and friendship you hope to experience once during a lifetime.
Lori will be missed in so many ways by so many people, but mostly by her daughters Erynn and Katy. They are fortunate she has left them with her spirit and strength and we know she will be whispering in their ears daily, helping guide them through a beautiful life. Lori Hale, the Mother, Daughter, Sister, Friend, and Wife, is difficult to describe. If we took a beautiful sunset in a vibrantly colored garden, added a beautiful piece of art, music, and the poem of a lifetime, and then threw in the spirit and graciousness of an Angel, we might be close to describing the person we will all miss who has just joined God’s inner circle. P.S. Good-bye Cookie, I have loved you from the first day I saw you.
Open casket visitation with family and friends will be from 7:00 to 8:30 pm and a prayer vigil at 8:30 pm the evening of Thursday, May 17, followed by a funeral Mass at 10:30 am on Friday, May 18. Both will take place at St. Kilian’s Catholic Church in Mission Viejo. Burial will follow at Ascension Cemetery in Lake Forest. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Lori’s memory to Susan G. Komen for the Cure 3191 A Airport Loop Drive, Costa Mesa CA. 92629.
120 responses to Lori Ann Hale
Debbie Farinella says:
March 2, 2009
Hi Chickie~
I’m sure you know how much I miss you. As I scrap & shop you are right there next to me. I laugh about the memories we shared during our adventures at the shows in Orlando or even here nearby. Our midnight scrapfests when Phil and Bill were sure we were up to somethin’! The times we rushed through the mall just before they closed so we could get that one “needed” thing, as they tried to lock the doors! I hear your laughter ring in my heart often.
Bela & Erynn are in the midst of receiving their college letters, I can’t help but think of their elementary days and the fieldtrips we chaperoned. I know you are full of pride. Katy & Erynn have become such wonderful young ladies. They are you up and down. I smile everytime I see them, and see your smile in their eyes.
I love you Lori.
Debbie-Doo
BILL HALE says:
April 14, 2009
HI MUFF. I can’t believe how long its been since I used that endearing term. It meant so very much to us for so many years through so many struggles. It represented warmth, safety and relief from all the battles and pain we shared. I still hold it close to me as one of the few remaining sacred symbols of the blanket of security we used to lock out the world during so many raging times of turmoil fear and anxiety. This time I can feel you also saying it to me in hopes of helping me cope with so many of the same things you walked through for so many years. As you knew and told me during those last few days I would be tested more than ever before in life and like so often you were correct.The girls and I had a really fun Easter, Spoiled them with to much candy and a special stuffed animal and a few surprises and shared Mass together and a laughing visit with you an a fancy brunch which you would have enjoyed. More than anything you would have enjoyed how pretty they looked in their Easter outfits. We really did bring two very beautiful girls into this world. YES, Mothers Day is on the anniversary of your death and the thoughts and reflections are already starting. More and more I find myself accepting your death as God’s decision and him wanting you to come home a lot sooner than any of us wanted or would have ever thought possible.At the same time my anger for the girls loss and your loss as their Mom still provokes some bitterness and harshness. Watching and listening to the 3 of you together provided me constant glimpses of heaven on earth and gave me such a deep understanding of a Mother’s love for her chidren. You were truly chosen to be a Mother and I struggle with your early loss of that beautiful way you were raising our children. I found another sign of your beautiful strenght and faith today with some papers you were writing things on exactly 60 days before you died. All I could do was smile and say a prayer with and to you, I hope you heard it. Lori I know you’d be proud of the way I’m trying to move forward and I feel your hand often nudging me and helping me stay busy. I’m sure I could not have survived those early dark days without you whispering in my ear and tucking me in each night. Our daughters seem to be happy and healthy and trying to live life to the fullest and make me and I know you very proud everyday. I think once I get through this years cycle of the date of your death, Mom’s day, our anniversary, Fathers day and my birthday some of my strenght and motivation will return. I feel a lot of the old energy and some new excitement in life filling my head and I think it will be a fun summer, especially with our oldest Princess leaving for college. I’m sure next months HS graduation will cause lots of diverse emotions from many areas but I know we will somehow get through it. I know that day was one of your primary goals in your courageous battle and I will miss you but I know all of us will feel your presence and especially our beautiful loldest daughter. I’ll say good night Muff, the rawness came from nowhere a little while ago and I needed to let some feelings out and connect with you through my writing which always seems to give me the release and relief I need.Rest peacefully Angel.
BILL HALE says:
May 24, 2009
HI LORI….Just checking in with you and needing to write. It’s another holiday weekend on the heels of Mother’s day which was tough. Holidays provoke so many memories of wonderful times past and the many special and simple things we did and shared. This week our beautiful oldest daughter graduates from HS and I know you understand the emotions connected with this event. This was one of the goals you fought so hard to be here for and you’re not and that hurts very deeply.I will do everything I can to make it special but I know the hole and pain our wonderful daughter will feel. This is followed by Dad’s day and our anniversary and another birthday I will deny and then our princess will depart for college.I could have never predicted the emotions I feel all at once coming from so many places. You know about our little redhead and our new friend who gives us both a lot of joy. Both of our girls seem to be doing OK and deeply engaged in enjoying life and even though they don’t talk about it, I often see that look of loss on their face and it brings me to my knees because that’s one of life’s traumas I can do nothing about except love them and care for them as much as humanly possible. I know you are resting peacefully back at home and feel our struggles and pain but also enjoy the fun and laughter that is constantly coming back into our lives. We simply miss your spirit and your smile and all the things which made you so special. Thank You for listening and I still hear your whispers and encouraging words and directions but some days are harder than others to accomplish what we both want and need to have done. I miss you and love you, Good Morning and have a day filled with the peace, serenity and the joy you so richly deserve knowing there is an entire army of followers who miss your wonderful presence each day.
bill hale says:
June 15, 2009
Hi Lori..I know, it’s difficult to believe its 19 years since the drunken Monsignor called you Laura and later introduced us as the newly married couple, Mr and Mrs HALL….You were and are so right about this day and what you use to say. Words are weak and actions are only actions on these special days because anniversaries are for feelings and silent peaceful reflections about what the day means and what history has taught us and what 2 people share or have suffered through together. I will gladly honor your wishes and enjoy a peaceful day of reflection filled with enormous gratitude. Happy Anniversary Lori, I love you and the girls and I miss you and your beautiful smile and spirit. The faith you showed me and the strenght you taught me help me 20 times a day. I wish you could be here to see the beautiful daughters who embody who you are and what you were and are all about.Good night and rest peacefully.
Debbie Farinella says:
September 28, 2009
Happy Birthday my sweet friend!
We celebrated you at the Race for the Cure yesterday. We all sported your pink cap and thought of you at every step.
Our 2 freshmen girlies are both so happy with their college choices! Whew! Erynn in Nebraska and Bela in New York! “Who’d a thunk!!” I know you’re keeping your watchful, proud eye over your little “cornhusker”! Katy will be there soon enough, too!!
I miss you sweet cheeks and I love you too! Happy Birthday!!
Debbie Doo