Obituary

Lourana Hedi Howard, 75, of Mesa, Arizona, passed away Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at Banner Baywood Medical Center, after a brief stay, surrounded by family.

Lourana was born in Kansas City, Missouri on March 15,1949, to the late Robert T Jr and Angelika (Rudenberg) Howard. She graduated from Lawrence High School, Lawrence, Kansas. She obtained a Bachelor’s degree from The University of Kansas, a Masters from the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and Masters in Teaching from the University of South Florida. She spent two years in the Peace Corps in Ghana teaching Chemistry. Before retirement, her work included driving the monorail at the Bronx Zoo, proofreading and editing, and insurance, among others. She lived in Burlington, VT, New York City, Sarasota, FL, and Tucson, AZ before moving to the Phoenix area.

Lourana was a free spirit and a friend to many. She loved to travel and was a foodie. She was open to alternative spiritual ideologies and methods of healing, and human connections. She enjoyed playing the harp and choral singing. She also loved animals, especially cats.

Lourana is survived by her siblings Angelika (Dennis) Clark of Mount Vernon, IN, Robert R (Marilyn) Howard of Gilbert, AZ, John (Patty) Howard of Tempe, AZ, and Thomas (Kelly) Howard of Jonestown, TX; and nephews and niece John (Hattie) McHale, RJ Howard, Nickolas (Darron) Doshier, Austin Howard, Morgan Howard, Jeffrey Flood, and Jason Brink; and eleven great nieces and nephews.

Lourana was preceded in death by her parents and two younger siblings Valerie and Robert T III.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Community Christian Church, Tempe, AZ at 2 pm on Saturday, November 2, 2024. Interment will occur in the spring at the Mount Auburn Columbarium, Cambridge, MA.

The family is grateful to Brookdale Springs, Mesa, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Banner Baywood for taking such good care of Lourana for her last few months.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Condolences may be made online at www.awisechoiceaz.com.