Lorena Ornelas Obituary (1982

Lorena Ornelas, 40, was called to Heaven on September 12, 2022 after a valiant struggle with many illnesses. Her devotion to her family, passion for her work and her firm belief in God supported her in her struggle and ultimately gave her peace. Lorena was born in Nueva Italia, Michoacán in Mexico on July 1, 1982, to Maria Gonzalez. Lorena was partially raised in Apatzingán, Michoacán up until the age of 8 when her mom decided to venture off with her to the United States to the State of Washington where her mother intentions were to get a job to gain enough money to fix the roofs to the two houses her mother owned in Michoacán. But plans changed. They first arrived in Paterson, Washington and then established themselves in Sunnyside, WA after her mother married, Santiago Marin, who took not only on the role of a husband but also a father to Lorena. Lorena Graduated from the Sunnyside High School in 2001. Lorena then went off to work at S.L. Start as a caregiver for many years which during this time she met Fernando Ornelas one special night at what is now known as the “Love Shack” through a mutual friend on August 3, 2002. After a year of dating, they eloped on August 9, 2003. Shortly after Giselle was born, then came along Selena, Caleb and Layla. Let’s also not forget Ezekiel who came into our lives later on and is now our 5th child and the baby of the family. Let’s continue this story… Lorena moved onto working at Arthur H. Smith Elementary School in Grandview, WA as a para-educator. While balancing a full-time job, providing care to her parents and being the best mother and wife she can be, Lorena continued her education and enrolled into Yakima Valley Community College in Grandview, WA where she obtained her Associate of Arts (AA) degree in 2017 and continued on to obtain a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree in 2019 from Heritage University in Toppenish, WA. Life then took an unfortunate turn for Lorena in the winter of 2018, Lorena’s father passed away due to complications that resulted from chronic kidney disease and in the start of 2019 she was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease that caused kidney failure and other health complications but it didn’t stop her passion to work for the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF). The great experience she had of working with the Sunnyside DCYF team during her internship and serving the children, youth and families in her community, had a big positive impact on her. She was officially hired on with DCYF in 2019. She started work at the Yakima DCYF office and then eventually establishing herself in the Sunnyside DCYF office. Lorena was a strong woman who was very loving, caring, compassionate and selfless. She is a mother who was very devoted to her children and did all she could to be there for them and meet their needs. She was a devoted daughter to her parents who she looked after up to her last day. She was also a great sister to her two sisters who she loved so much. She was my best friend and wife. She is the one who was there for me in the darkest moments and the one to push me to become the person I am now. She was also a person who was very passionate about her job and really fond of her work family. She was a very caring and loving friend. My wife was also strong in her faith in God which helped her prepare for the call to Heaven. Lorena is survived by her husband Fernando Ornelas of Sunnyside, WA and her mother, Maria Marin, of Sunnyside, WA, as well their daughters and sons, Giselle, Selena, Laila, Caleb and Ezekiel. Also, by her sisters, Maria De Jesus (Luis) Avalos of Sunnyside, WA, Elisa (Martin) Tovar of Pasco, WA. And survived by her uncle and aunt, Saul and Margarita Gonzalez from Pasco, WA. As well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. Lorena is preceded in death by her father, Santiago Marin, from El Pitallo, Jalisco in Mexico and her twin brother, Ignacio Gonzalez from Nueva Italia, Michoacán in Mexico. Visitation to be held from 2:00-7:00 PM on Thursday 9/15 with a continuation of a Christian service on Friday 9/16 from 1:30-2:30 PM at Valley Hills Funeral Home in Sunnyside. Continuation of a Christian burial at the Sunnyside Cemetery. A post funeral reception will take place at Valley Hills Funeral Home in the reception area after the burial.