Lana Louise Thiessen Camire passed away on January 6, 2019 after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. While this terrible disease took her life, nothing can erase the mark she left on this earth. Whether you knew her from her days as a military wife, a devoted mother to her girls, a workhorse for people with disabilities, a groupie of the NFA marching band, or a cheerleader at her grandsons' baseball games, you knew you were lucky to have met her.

Lana was born November 10, 1948 and grew up in California surrounded by a large family whom she cherished. While her life journey brought her to Connecticut, she loved to tell stories about her siblings, David, Lynda and John, and cousins on the West Coast. Family reunions were events she looked forward to for months. She took her daughters back to Oregon and California each year as they were growing up, which became some of their fondest memories. Lana's love for travel led her on beautiful cruises with her sister and crazy adventures with her good friend, Carol. She collected sand from each beach she went to and bought a little trinket from every street vendor that caught her attention. She loved to embrace the local culture and was always ready for a new experience.

It was no secret that Lana's greatest joys were her grandchildren. From the oldest to the youngest, she had a unique and special relationship with each one. She went to every concert, competition, and sporting event she could. She earned the title of Dugout Mom to help keep her youngest grandson, Nico, in line. She bragged about her oldest grandson, Hayden, studying at The Ohio State University, to whoever would listen. Lana traveled up and down the East Coast to watch her only granddaughter, Ashlan, play in the band, both at Norwich Free Academy and the University of Connecticut. She loved to pack up the boys and take them letterboxing at a state park for the day. For a little old grandma, she managed to wear them out every time.

Lana's life was one well lived. She raised two daughters, Amy and Lara, to be as generous and giving as she was. She loved her sons-in-law, Michael and Tim, as if they were her own children. She had five grandchildren, Hayden, Ashlan, James, Elias and Nico, who owned her heart. She was predeceased by both her parents, Elmer Thiessen and Louise Brehm. She had precious friends and coworkers that knew they could always count on her in times of need. And in the end, she left this earth with the same fighting spirit that she had every day of her life. We will miss her, but we will remember her with a smile, knowing she made this world a better place.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to The Arc New London County, 125 Sachem Street, Norwich, CT 06360.