Lori Jean Nugent

After years of struggling with illness, Lori Nugent made her final passage. Lori was born on February 14, 1951in Anaconda to Wallace and Lilyan Nugent. He was in the Coast Guard and she a Registered Nurse who, by chance, met in San Francisco. After their marriage, they returned home to Anaconda to raise their family.

Lori graduated from Carroll College with a bachelor’s degree in education. She later attended Montana State University for a master’s degree in counseling. She taught in the Anaconda School District until illness caused her to retire. Lori was diagnosed in 1980 with Thrombocythemia, a disease that causes your body to produce too many platelets. After treatments ceased to be effective, she was the recipient of a bone marrow transplant at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle. At that time, she was blessed with great care and support from her Seattle cousin Ann Ries and her husband Jim. Lori then developed Graft vs Host disease, which was a complication. She fought the good fight.

One of the many blessings in her life were connections with the Irish ladies of the AOH. She formed lifelong friendships that sustained her through many difficult days. St Patrick's Day was a grand event as she marched in the parade and joined the festivities with the Irish washerwomen. She was Irish for certain, including her red hair. Lori was a keen observer, but hard to read and didn't often share her thoughts. She was also gifted with artistic talents.

Lori is survived by her sister Patricia Anderson and husband Charles, nieces, nephews and families, Kristen and Dan Manson, Jon Anderson and Sabrina Bradley, Rachel Anderson and Richard Stepan, Ryun and Laurie Anderson, also, nine great nieces and nephews in Butte and Austin Texas, her cousins, Ann Ries, John Murphy, Maureen Derzay,Kieran Ohman, and seven Nugent cousins in Montana and Nevada.

Much gratitude is given to the staff at Anaconda Community Hospital and the EMT's at the Anaconda Fire Department for their kindness and care, especially to Dr. Nathan Cook, Dr. Kira Conn and Dr. James Hueftle, who has treated her for many years. Grateful thanks to Mary Kay Breslin, Patti Boggess and Rinky and Brandon Mclean who were so close and caring.

A Celebration of Life Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 14 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 217 W Pennsylvania St., Anaconda. No visitation is planned.

Please visit www.longfellowfinneganriddle.com to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Lori.

Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Lori and her family.