Lorrain Cacelia Burgess' Obituary
Lorrain Cacelia Burgess Obituary
With family by her bedside, Lorrain Cacelia Burgess, 60, of Makakilo lost her battle with cancer on October 15, 2018. Lorrain was born at Castle Air Force Base in California to John Edward and Hannelore M Burgess. She graduated from Atwater High School in 1976 where she was homecoming queen and an award winning majorette. A highlight of her high school years was performing with the AHS Band in Vienna, upon invitation by the Austrian President.
A family vacation in Hawaii inspired Lorrain to make Oahu her permanent home. She spent the next 38 years immersing herself in the islands rich history and culture continually venturing out to explore and participate in all that Hawaii offered her. Her love for the island was infectious. She was the ultimate tour guide for family and friends who came to visit and there was never a dull moment when Lorrain planned your itinerary.
The tourism industry was a perfect fit for Lorrain. She began a successful career in marketing and advertising , starting out at Margo Wood Advertising Agency, then Spotlight Hawaii , and later taking the helm at Hawaii Magazine. When Fancy Publications sold Hawaii Magazine Lorrain went to school to become a Certified Substance Abuse Councilor. She poured her heart into helping her clients get their lives back on track. Working first at Ho’omau Ke Ola in Waianae and then Hina Mauka in Waipahu.
Lorrain was known for her eternal optimism. She was an adventurous traveler who made friends easily and kept them. She made frequent trips to the mainland to visit family and friends and especially to celebrate birthdays and holidays with her beloved nieces and nephew. She was a big influence in their lives. Throughout her cancer journey she remained positive, determined to squeeze as much living as she could into the time she had here. She visited Europe with her family in 2017 and flew to California for the birth of her first grand niece, Alina June. She chose not to focus on the cancer, but instead made travel plans far into the future with family and friends. She loved her people deeply and was energized by being around those she cared about , sharing stories, good food and executing her plans. With Lorrain there was always a plan for everything. She leaves behind a treasure trove of memories for everyone in her life. But the biggest mark she left on our hearts. Lorrain was beautiful inside and out, generous, thoughtful and full of wisdom that she shared with us all.
She is survived by the love of her life Solo Toau, her father John Edward Burgess, her mother Hannelore M. Rose, sister Peggy Amaral (Steve), nieces Lindsay Amaral Tapia (Julian) and Hana Lori Dennis (Brian), nephew Stephen Spencer Amaral (Bailey), grandniece Alina June Tapia and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins on the East Coast and Germany. Also surviving are Lorrain’s hanai family: Jeannie, John , Maxine and Yvonne Kuoha and Claudia Virtudes, her goddaughters Christine Vagai (Frank) and Cherie Correia and hanai sisters Anna Maria Miru and Dana Washofsky.
Lorrain was preceded in death by her stepdad Ernest Rose and grandparents Maria Carstensen, Hubert Englemaier, Alberta Irene Johnston and Leon Edward Burgess.
Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, November 10, 2018 3:30 pm at the Makaha Beach Cabanas, 84-965 Farrington Hwy, Waianae. Casual Attire. Plumeria lei welcome.
To send flowers
to the family, please visit our floral store.
Read More
What’s your fondest memory of Lorrain?
What’s a lesson you learned from Lorrain?
Share a story where Lorrain's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Lorrain you’ll never forget.
How did Lorrain make you smile?