Diane R. Farra

August 9, 2018

Diane Rae Farra, age 61, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 9, 2018, at Mercy Medical Center North Iowa. She was surrounded by her loving family. Diane was born in Mason City, Iowa on September 8, 1956 to Robert Eugene and Mary Ellen (Johnson) Lauritson of Mason City, Iowa. She was a 1974 graduate of Mason City High School, earned her bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) degree from the University of Iowa, and completed courses towards her master’s degree in Kansas. She was a critical care nurse for over 35 years, and has worked in hospitals all over the country. She spent many years working at Mercy Hospital in Mason City, serving for a time as the director of the cardiovascular recovery unit. Diane loved arts and crafts, especially cross stitch. She was an avid reader and you could rarely find her without her Kindle. She enjoyed watching Lifetime and Hallmark movies, and spent much of her time trying to replicate just about every recipe on the Food Network, an endeavor in which she was extremely successful. One of her great loves was her dog, Deja. To cherish her memory, Diane leaves behind her niece, Diana Renae Lauritson, her namesake whom she raised as her daughter; two sisters, Debrah Kathryn Lauritson of Minneapolis, and Judith Ann (Joseph) Bittner of Mason City; brother, Daniel Lauritson of Mason City; nieces and nephews, Peter Lauritson, Elizabeth (Rashad) Steele, Suzette (Michael) Epps, Robert (Amanda) Lauritson, Justin (Kayla) Lauritson, Jacob (Brooke) Lauritson, Andrew Lauritson, and Patrick Lauritson; and she was blessed with many great-nieces and nephews. Diane was preceded in death by her parents, Robert E. Lauritson and Mary E. Lauritson; her younger brother, Joseph Robert Lauritson; and great-niece, Elisa Anne Clayton. Family, friends, and others whose lives Diane touched are invited to gather at Riverside Friends Church, 527 N Kentucky Ave., Mason City, IA, on Friday, August 17, 2018 from 1:00 pm until the memorial service at 2:00 pm. Memorials may be made to the Diane Rae Farra memorial fund at Fullerton Funeral Home, 123 2nd St. SE, Mason City, IA 50401. Online guests may visit fullertonfh.com. Arrangements are at Fullerton Funeral Home, 123 2nd St SE, Mason City, IA 50401, 641-423-8676 www.Fullertonfh.com Facebook/Fullertonfuneralhomes