Lora Ann von Gemmingen

Anchorage resident Lora Ann von Gemmingen, 42, died at Providence Alaska Medical Center on Feb. 19, 2006, of complications from a long battle with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

A funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, 2901 E. Huffman Road, with the Rev. Scott Medlock officiating. A reception will follow. Burial will be at Angelus Memorial Park in the spring.

Mrs. von Gemmingen was born in Seattle on July 12, 1963. She spent her early years in Seattle until her family moved to Alaska and settled in Palmer. She graduated from Palmer High School in 1981.

After high school, she moved to Anchorage and began working for the Raymond A. Nesbett Law Offices as a paralegal. She met her future husband, Brett von Gemmingen, at a Cinco de Mayo party on May 5, 1991, and they married at the Holy Family Cathedral in Anchorage on July 31, 1993. She was a member of the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce and the congregation at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church.

Her family wrote, &#8220Lora enjoyed gourmet cooking, entertaining, music, art, flying and travel. Lora's greatest passion in life was taking care her of her two ‘big boys,' Brett and Kevin. Her love and generosity knew no bounds. Despite her constant pain, she lived every day fully, graciously and with joy. Lora's courage, strength and determination touched the lives of everyone who knew her. We will miss her brown eyes and pretty smile every day, and we know that her caring spirit will be with us forever.”

Survivors include her husband, Brett von Gemmingen; son, Kevin-Ryan; parents, Floyd and Betty McCullough; sisters, Rosita, Renee and Josephine; brothers, Rickey and Gregory; close friend, Raymond A. Nesbett, and numerous nephews and nieces.

Donations may be made in Mrs. von Gemmingen's memory to the Alaska Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America, P.O. Box 240628, Anchorage, AK 99524. Arrangements were made with Evergreen Memorial Chapel, 737 E St.