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Lorianne Claire VanDerhoff, 59

Lorianne Claire VanDerhoff, née Brazil, passed away after a long hard fight with pancreatic cancer on Monday, June 5, 2017. Her husband and her two sons were by her side when she passed.

Lori, as everyone knew her by, was born on July 24, 1957, in Oakland, Calif. Her parents were Clarence and Jackie Brazil. The family lived around the Bay Area for a number of years. Lori’s father worked in various occupations, and he would remodel homes and sell them, so there were several moves. One of the places that Lori spoke of often was the house in Sonoma, that was across a small creek where many types of berries grew.

Her family decided to move to Idaho in the late ’60s and they settled in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Lori continued with her schooling there and graduated from Coeur d’Alene High in 1975. While living in Coeur d’Alene, Lori worked at several jobs. She kept the books for Dex Bailey Tires and worked at Undy’s FrosTop Drive In. She also helped at the Garden Motel on Northwest Boulevard with her best friend, Georgia Kiele. George’s family became Lori’s second family in Coeur d’Alene and a lifetime friendship was shared between them.

Lori attended several colleges and universities. Eventually Lori moved to Boise, Idaho, where her mother had moved after a divorce and lived at the Idaho Commission for the Blind where her mother worked. She finished her degree at Boise State University, majoring in mathematics. Lori chose math because she wanted to work in computer programming. A degree in math was a requirement at that time for a programmer.

Lori’s first professional job was working at Ore-Ida Foods in Boise in the IT Department. She started as an intern and then was hired after graduating in 1984. Lori had a great career with Ore-Ida, and traveled to many of the company’s factories throughout the United States.

Ore-Ida moved to Pittsburg, Pa., in 1999. Lori decided she did not want to move with the company and had to find her next career. She was hired at Blue Cross of Idaho in 2000 and worked there as a programmer analyst until she had to medically retire in 2013. Again, she developed many friendships through her work and enjoyed it immensely.

In 1986, Lori met her husband, Chuck VanDerhoff, at the Boise Singles Club where they were paired together as Pinochle partners. The pairing must have worked, as they were married on June 26, 1988, and would have celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary this month. Lori gave birth to two sons, Christopher in 1991 and Daniel in 1994.

Lori and Chuck got to take many trips with their boys, and always enjoyed good laughs and good food with friends and families. Lori was a superb baker, and was known for her cakes and pies. Lori also liked to quilt and through quilting established her friendship with Mary Sanders, whom Lori took care of in Mary’s advanced years.

A great deal of appreciation would like to be given to many people who helped care for Lori after she contracted her disease. This group includes the St. Luke’s Hospice workers, Mountain States Tumor Institute with Dr. Dan Zuckerman and his staff. Also at MSTI, were the many nurses and staff who treated Lori with much love and care.

Lori is survived by her husband, Chuck; and sons Daniel and Christopher. She is also survived by both her parents, Clarence Brazil of Polson, Mont., and Jackie Brazil of Boise; along with her brothers, Brian Brazil of Eugene, Ore., and David Brazil of Polson.

A viewing will be held from 6-8 p.m. today, June 9, 2017, at Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel, 5400 Fairview Ave., Boise. Her service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 10, 2017, at Alden-Waggoner. There will be no graveside service.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in Lori’s name would be greatly appreciated.