Lori O’Berry, 74, passed away on 7 January 2021, surrounded by her family.
Lori, born on 5 October 1946 to George and Mary Batal in Lawrence Massachusetts, immediately brought joy and laughter into the world.
Lori went on to graduate from St. Mary’s high school in 1964. After graduating from high school, Lori went on to pursue her Bachelor’s degree in nursing from Michigan State University and her Master’s degree in public health from Troy State University.
Lori’s desire to help others kicked off more than 4 decades in the nursing field.
In 1967, she met Ben and the two were inseparable from that point on. Lori and Ben were married for over 52 years and had two children, Ben and Christy.
Lori was a fiercely dedicated mom to her children, raising them to go on to accomplish great things. Family came first and was above all else to Lori, a value she instilled in all those around her. The hole left by her absence is impossible to fill.
Lori is survived by her loving husband, Ben; her children, Ben and Christy; her grandchildren, Ben, Aneira, Brenin, and Rhys; and her sisters, Carole and Terri. She was predeceased by her parents.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Lori’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, https://www.stjude.org/donate/.
An in-person memorial service will be held on 18 January 2021, at 10:00 am Mountain Time, at the Shrine of Remembrance, Colorado Springs, CO. The memorial service will be live streamed for those that cannot attend. A virtual Celebration of Life will follow at 12:30pm Mountain Time. There will be an opportunity for attendees to share memories of Lori during the Celebration of Life. Virtual links will be provided prior to the service.
Benjamin O’Berry
12 Jan 2021I love you mom!!!
Holly
12 Jan 2021❤️ thinking of you.
Ginger Carter
12 Jan 2021I love you Aunt Lori.
Terri Steger
12 Jan 2021Loraine, we love you so much and appreciate everything you have taught me all these years.
You are missed each and every day. Terri
Scott Benham
12 Jan 2021I love and miss you!
Scott, Heather, John and Alison Benham
12 Jan 2021Our love to you, Auntie, and to the family. Your wisdom and laughter will be sorely missed. RIP❤️
Rosa Linda caprio
12 Jan 2021Such a beautiful person. Your wisdom and kindness will not be forgotten.
Rosa Linda Caprio
Jackie Brown
12 Jan 2021Sincere condolences and prayers for Lori’s family. She was a joy to know and work with. May GOD give you peace.
Rufus Eugene Godwin CAPT (ret), MSC, USN
12 Jan 2021Lorri’s dedication to the occupational health of Marines and Sailors in the Marine Corps and Navy was another of her many legacies.
Adriene H Simmons
12 Jan 2021My condolences and prayers for the family! I have lost a genuine friend ( extended family) as well as a professional colleague. You will forever be missed and remembered. I can hear our last conversation on December 2nd which brought a smile to my face. Rest in peace, forever loved and appreciated.
Robert Odette
12 Jan 2021Wishing Peace and Comfort to the Family. I had the honor and privilege to work with Lori. She always had a smile to share. A dedicated Nurse and Public Health champion. RIP
Dana Goodwin
12 Jan 2021Prayers of strength and comfort to all of Lori’s family. She was a lovely, happy soul who cared for all she encountered. My sincere condolences.
Richard J. Thomas Captain, MC, USN Retired
12 Jan 2021To the O’Berry family and all of Lori’s many friends:
It was a pleasure to work with Lori. She was a true champion for the safety and health of all the people we were entrusted to care for. I never knew Lori and my mom both were born in Lawrence, MA. I did know what an amazing friend, colleague, and professional she was. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Richard
Sue Torbert
14 Jan 2021Lori was the consummate professional. Beyond that though she was a friend; a gentle soul who cared deeply for her coworkers, colleagues and friends. I was blessed to call her a friend. She shared her knowledge and love for people by being a nurse. It was obvious she cared, she mentored so many occupational health professionals throughout the entire Navy. My sincerest condolences are extended to the entire O’Berry family. May God fill you with the Warmth, Love and Light that Lori so generously shared with others. RIP. ? ?
Mari Pohlhaus
12 Jan 2021You were my officemate, friend and colleague for many many years. I remember many cups of coffee in your cubicle at Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center/Navy environmental health center. I will miss you so so much. You were such a legacy for Navy occupational medicine. May you rest in peace!
Holly Benham
12 Jan 2021Auntie Lorraine, Thank you so much for everything you have done for me. You were too kind and too generous. I already miss your cute, sweet little face. I love you so much and I will never stop thinking about you.
❤️
Ken Uedoi
12 Jan 2021To Lori’s friends and family, I offer my deepest condolences. My interactions with Lori were brief and on a professional level, and I remember her as a person that was deeply committed to her to specialty. She was a wonderful person to know. She will be missed.
Colin
12 Jan 2021It was a pleasure to work with Ms.Lori. She was an amazing, kind person. A mentor to those of us who worked under her. She inspired me to live the adventurous life I live. We used to talk and share stories every day and I was very saddened to hear of her passing. My condolences to her wonderful family.
Lydia Gordon
13 Jan 2021I am sad to hear that my cousin Lori has left us. We only met a few times during her life as we lived thousands of miles apart, yet I had great affection for her. She had a loving, sweet manner, and I know she was loved by all who knew her. She will be sorely missed. My thoughts and prayers are with her family. Lydia
Fenia Ifanti
13 Jan 2021My deepest condolences to her family. I am very sorry for not having the opportunity to meet her. She has raised two very special children and her love and spirit will always live through them and her grandchildren. May she Rest In Peace.
Linda Day
13 Jan 2021Lori,
My dearest friend and colleague. We had good times and then great times. You brought joy and happiness wherever you went. Your smile would light up a room. You will be sorely missed by all that knew you.
My deepest condolences and prayers for your family.
Lynn Day
13 Jan 2021I only knew Lori for a short time. But I cherish the times we spent together traveling as a foursome. Lori was always there to lend a hand, to brighten the day with her smile and enjoy those she was with.
My prayers and thoughts for her family.
Tamara R Walker
13 Jan 2021Lori was wonderful to work with and a wealth of information on OccHealth. Any inspection she did was always a learning experience, and she left every place better than she found it. I’m so sorry for the loss to your family.
Anne McDonough MD MPH, Smithsonian Institution/ former Navy Occ Health Collegue
13 Jan 2021Sincere Condolences to close friends and family, Lori was a great person and colleague. She is missed!
Anonymous
13 Jan 2021Marvin Parham
My condolences to the family. Lori was a very nice and loveable, beautiful person to work with. She always had a smile on her face and words of encouragements. The world has lost a very nice person that always cared about others. God bless the family.
Analou Ordinario
14 Jan 2021My thoughts and prayers are with her family in this time of sorrow. I first met Ms. Lori at the Occupational Health conference in 2010. She gave energy, commitment and inspiration to everyone she worked with. She had a beautiful smile and gave cheerfulness to us. She was genuinely warm and a wonderful nurse-one we will miss greatly. She is a true inspiration.
ANTHONY J CAROTENUTO
14 Jan 2021So sorry to hear. She is gone too soon. RIP Lori I loved working with you.
Jenn Taranto
15 Jan 2021Ms. O’Berry, I have some heartfelt memories of you. Thank you for always making me feel like I was a part of your family. I will miss you dearly.
Alan F. Philippi, DO, MS (CAPT, MC, USN retired)
17 Jan 2021I had the pleasure and privilege to work with Lori at the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center from 2012 to 2015. I was alway impressed with Lori’s gentle way with people and how she would graciously spend time on the phone answering questions from Navy Occupational Health nurses and physicians around the world. No question was too insignificant or small, and if Lori couldn’t provide an answer (rarely), she would always find one.
I am happy Lori could spend some time in retirement traveling and being with Ben and visiting her extended family, but this time was cut much too short. My heartfelt condolences to Ben and the O’Berry family. The world has lost a very special person.
Anonymous
18 Jan 2021I am so sorry for your loss. I am grateful to have known Lori as mentor, colleague, boss and most importantly as a friend. She loved fiercely and cared deeply. She touched our souls. When she got that sparkle in her eyes and a smirk on her face, you knew you know you were going to get roped into something. Once it was a spontaneous Macarena dance together from opposing cubicles while trying to smother our giggles. She has a beautiful soul. She loved you very, very much and knew that you loved her the same. My thoughts are with you. Jeanne
Leslie Crowder
18 Jan 2021My condolences on the loss of Lori. Lori was a wonderful dedicated nurse, a joy to work with, and a sweet lady.
Annette M. Von Thun (CAPT, MC, USN)
19 Jan 2021Sincerest condolences to Lori’s friends and family.
On behalf of my colleagues, we are tremendously grateful for the many years of dedicated service to ensuring the health and safety of our Navy and Marine Corps brethren. Her gracious spirit and delightful smile always brightened our office and her boundless energy/enthusiasm (and mischievousness) was particularly on display at our NEHC conferences. Such a tremendous light to the world is now gone and will be missed!
Lorraine Doughty
25 Jan 2021My sincere condolences to Lori’s family. Lori was a great mentor and a true inspiration to so many of us working in Occupational Health. My heart goes out to her family and to everyone who loved her. Her passing is such a huge loss.
Carl Smith
24 Jul 2022Hello Ben, just found out about your loss while doing an internet search for you folks.
Was wonder just where you might have landed,
I am so sorry to hear about Lori she was a great person that I am so happy to have known.
Hope you are doing ok it has been a long-time sense you were up here in Maine.
God Bless, Carl Smith
Diane Haynes (Jones)
28 Oct 2023I spent 6 years with Lori in Germany and have been trying to locate her and it broke my heart when I realized she had passed. She changed my life and the world was better because she was in it.