Joanne Suzette Lanigan

Joanne Lanigan passed from this life July 29, 2015 in Sandpoint, Idaho on her 60th birthday. A celebration of her life will be held Thursday, August 27 at 4 p.m. in the Healing Garden at Bonner General Health. Joanne Suzette Lanigan was born July 29, 1955 to Phillip J. and Balbina "Belle" Lanigan, her father's 41st birthday gift. She grew up in St. Cloud, MN, attending schools there and training as a Surgical Assistant at St. Cloud Technical & Vocational College. After moving to Sandpoint in the 1990s, Joanne found her true calling as a Lab Assistant and Phlebotomist at Bonner General Health, where she worked the last 20 years. Her generous heart and sparkling personality would have been so wasted on patients under anesthesia! Joanne wasn't just good at her job, she excelled at it. She loved her patients and they felt and returned that love. She managed to combine skill and professionalism with light-hearted banter that entertained her patients and put them at ease; more than one patient said they genuinely looked forward to her drawing their blood. Joanne loved a good laugh and a good cuppa Joe. She loved Sandpoint, hiking, biking, running, swimming, kayaking, snowshoeing and ice skating, a throwback to her Minnesota roots. Joanne loved purple and enjoyed colorful clothes, loud socks, and all things jewelry, especially dangly earrings. She enjoyed quiet times in BGH's Healing Garden, and loved harvesting fruit and berries from the gardens surrounding her home. She enjoyed knitting and, as an avid reader, always had a book at the ready. With her thick wavy hair, shining blue eyes and ready smile, Joanne was outwardly beautiful, but far more important was the inner beauty she radiated. She was known for her generosity and her eagerness to lend a helping hand wherever she saw a need. A deeply spiritual person, she owned a well-marked Bible and had a heart firmly directed toward God. Joanne leaves behind many friends who mourn her untimely passing. Her huge heart, lively wit and knee-slapping sense of humor will be truly missed. "Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon. They stay for awhile, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same." ~ Flavia Weedn Vaya con Dios, dear Jo, until we meet again.