In loving memory of
Lori DeVries

• June 11, 1966
• -
• May 12, 2023

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In The Villages, Florida, on May 12th, 2023, the world lost a luminous soul. Lori Ann (Lori Anna) DeVries (Gandt), a woman of multifaceted talents, passions, and deep compassion, bade farewell to this world at the age of 56.

Born on June 11th, 1966, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to her father, Dennis Henry Gandt, whose memory preceded her in death, and mother, Dorothy Ann Gandt, Lori Anna lived a life full of love and light. She was a devoted mother, wife, sister, and friend, whose kindness and generosity touched many.

Lori Anna’s journey was strewn with diverse paths, and she traversed them with grace and resilience. She began her career as a Dental Hygienist at Waupun Correctional Institution in 1992 and advanced to Fox Lake Correctional Institution where her career switched paths and she continued as a dedicated Officer until retirement in 2016. During her time at FLCI, Lori Anna discovered her passion for massage therapy and attended night classes, graduating from the Blue Sky School of Professional Massage & Therapeutic Bodywork. Lori Anna was a healer. Massage therapy was a vital part of her life, and she used it to connect with others, to soothe their pain, and to bring comfort and relief. She believed in the power of touch to heal wounds, both physical and emotional, and she gave of herself freely to others.

Passionate and curious, Lori Anna never took a single moment for granted. She pursued an array of interests and hobbies. She was an ardent crafter and knitter, taking delight in creating beautiful things with her hands. She relished the simple joys of walking, running, and swimming and found solace and healing in meditation and self-reflection. Her love for music was boundless, and she held a special place in her heart for Elvis Presley. Lori Anna was a connoisseur of aromatherapy and an explorer of the healing powers of reiki, tuning forks, and singing bowls. She collected angel figures, symbols of hope, and comfort, and spent many moments marveling at their beauty.

Lori Anna was and will always be a beacon of hope, love, and connection. Her boundless love and light will be deeply missed by all who knew her. She leaves behind her daughter, Danielle Gandt-McFadden, her husband of 16 years, Eugene DeVries, her sister, Dawn Marie Gandt, and her brother, Dennis Shane Gandt. But her legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched, the bridges she built between people, and the love she shared with all who came into her orbit.

How does one find the words to express the enormity of grief? How does one put into verse the depth and breadth of a life that was lived with such wonder and passion? Lori Anna’s life was an anthem, a triumphant melody that sang out to all around her. Her light still shines on, leaving a blank canvas for those of us left to paint the rest of life’s picture. The world is truly a better place for having known her.

Rest in peace, Lori Anna, and may your light shine on, forever, and always.