Obituary of Lori Michele LaCroix

Lori LaCroix, age 54, passed away peacefully with her husband at her side on May 13, 2014 after a courageous battle with cervical cancer that began 3 years ago. Her journey included a plethora of arduous radiation and chemotherapy treatments, radical surgery at the Mayo Clinic, and frequent hospitalization. Throughout it all she bravely met each challenge with the hope for life, but the final testament to her virtue lay in how gracefully she accepted her fate when hope for a recovery waned. Lori was born on May 15, 1959 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin as the third child of Marvin and Ruth LaCroix. The family lived in Cleveland, Wisconsin in a house built by Marvin. After graduating from Sheboygan North High School in 1977, she attended college at the UW-Whitewater, eventually attaining her CPA designation. Ingrained in Lori's core was a strong work ethic that she applied during her many years of employment at the National Corporation for Housing Partnerships (NCHP) in Washington D.C. during the 1980's. While employed at NCHP, Lori met her future husband, Dan Fosdick, and they were married on May 19, 1990. They decided to start a family in Naperville, IL where they were blessed with their first son, Nathan, in 1991. During the 1990's Lori continued to apply her accounting experience at the Stough Group in Hinsdale IL, a job that she held up until her retirement. Then in 1994 the family moved to Kenosha, WI where they were blessed with another son, Garrett. Subsequently, the family moved to Cambridge, WI, which has been their hometown for nearly 20 years. Lori took great pride in her knowledge of technology, especially because this knowledge allowed her to work out of the home and take an extremely active role in her children's lives. Since she had a voracious appetite for reading, much of her time was spent sharing this passion with her sons. After her "retirement" in 2005, Lori spent the majority of her time pursuing her interests and hobbies. She loved to relax in the tranquility of her condo on the lower Wisconsin River enjoying the wildlife and majestic white pines, staying connected via Words with Friends, and solving an impressive variety of puzzles ranging from crosswords to sudoku to jigsaw (and everything in-between). She displayed a penchant for travel, with a strong preference for the Caribbean islands of Aruba, St. Maarten, and St. Croix, though any location with a beach and good cocktails made her happy. Lori especially enjoyed trips that she affectionately called "Girls Gone Wild" retreats with the two women who had been her steadfast friends since college, Carol Jensen and Sue Valeri. Additionally, she always looked forward to the weekly lunch gatherings with her Cambridge friends; Sandy, Gina, Tobi, and Laurie. Lori is survived by her loving husband, Dan; two sons, Nathan and Garrett; her mother, Ruth LaCroix; a brother, Jim (Millie) LaCroix; a sister, Michele (Stan) Scharenbroch; and several nieces and nephews that always held a special place in her heart. Lori was preceded in death by her cherished cocker spaniel, Luna, and her father, Marvin LaCroix, from whom she drew much inspiration for facing the challenges of life. The family wishes to thank friends and family for their loving support, the compassionate staff at the UW Carbon Cancer Center and Mayo Clinic, and Heartland Hospice for their excellent care and guidance. In accordance with Lori's wishes, a private Celebration of Life ceremony is being planned, though a specific date and time is yet to be determined. Please feel free to share your memories at www.nitardyfuneralhome.com The Nitardy Funeral Home, Cambridge, WI is assisting the family.