Andrea T. Rainey, 52

A Life Well Lived

Andrea T. Rainey, 52, lost her battle with cancer on Saturday, April 4, 2015, at her home in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, surrounded by friends.

Andrea was born Aug. 24, 1962, in Omaha, Neb. She grew up near Seattle and graduated from Sammamash High School in 1980. She subsequently studied at the University of Washington where she earned her master's degree in software engineering.

Andrea relocated to Coeur d'Alene where passion met practicality and she opened CDA Yarn and Fiber. She was not only a business woman but also a passionate activist in the Pug community, ultimately opening a Pug rescue. Through Inland Pug Rescue, she was responsible for rehabilitating and rehoming dozens of pugs since its inception.

Andrea loved life and lived passionately. If she wasn't skiing, motorcycle racing, riding bike (both motor and pedal powered), traveling or running along the lake, you could find her sewing or knitting for her pugs or a friend's new baby. She was probably most well-known for her exuberant volunteer spirit and witty sense of humor that could brighten even the darkest day.

She was preceded in death by her father, Max Rainey. She is survived by her mother, Dorothea Theresa Rainey; sister Gabrielle Rainey; brother Michael Rainey; nephew Nicholas Rainey; fur son, Chester the pug; and countless adoring friends.

A memorial in her honor will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 11, 2015, at Sanders Beach (12th Street) in Coeur d'Alene, which will include a walk around Tubbs Hill. Friends, family and fur friends are all welcome and encouraged to join! Reception to be held at her home thereafter.

Arrangements are being handled by Bell Tower Funeral Home in Post Falls, Idaho. Please visit Andrea's online memorial at www.belltowerfuneralhome.com.

Thank you to Dr. David Bartels and Dr. Kimberly Morley as well as the wonderful staff at Kootenai Health Cancer Center for their optimism and ongoing support from the time of her diagnosis to her last breath. Words cannot express the gratitude felt toward all of you. A special thank you to Dr. Shaun Joshi and the team of providers at North Idaho Nephrology for their love and care of Andrea throughout her illness. The care, concern and empathy displayed by the staff in the ICU and Oncology Departments at Kootenai Health was unsurpassed, and our appreciation is immeasurable. A heartfelt thank you to River City Hospice for their prompt attention to every need allowing us to not only bring Andrea home, but to assure she was free from any pain or suffering.

"We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own, live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the plan." - Irving Townsend