Laura Rae Sinnard

Laura Rae Sinnard, born Jan. 11, 1953 in Portland, Ore. passed away peacefully at Sacred Heart Hospital in the arms of her husband and her five daughters on Aug. 23, 2015 at age 62. Laura went to be made whole again with her Lord and Savior after a 20-year brave battle with diabetes and it's affects.  

She loved being with her five precious daughters more than anything in the world. She was an amazing cook and enjoyed having all her daughters and their friends over to bake cookies along with many other fun treats when the girls were younger.  

Laura had many adventures including her two giving trips to Hurricane Katrina victims in Hattiesburg, Miss. She also took her daughters on a graduation trip to Europe, lived in Hawaii and worked for General Motors in  Slovakia. 

She loved her home on the Christmas Tree Farm near Cheney where she could watch moose, deer, coyotes and red tail hawks looking for dinner. She loved animals and numerous times brought home strays to be cared for. She was a horsewoman and dreamed of the day she would once again drive her team of Percheron Draft Horses down the road.  

Laura was an avid art connoisseur and lover of everyone "else's" artistic talents. Her passion for her job of owning and managing her family's apartments with an iron-velvet touch was second to none.  

The family would like to thank the care she received over the last year from the numerous staff and nurses at Sacred Heart Hospital and St. Joseph's Care Center, as well as her amazing team of friends and doctors: Stephen Murray M.D., Andrew  Howlett  M.D. and Robert Weigert M.D.  

She will be sorely missed by her husband of 25 years, Mitch Swenson, her daughters; Breeannda Swenson, Amanda Swenson, Anna Swenson, Kendra Swenson and Olivia Swenson. She also leaves behind her father and mother, Thomas and Bonnie Sinnard, and her brother Bradley Sinnard. 

A huge extended family will miss her dearly: mother-in-law, Margy Swenson; father-in-law, Darrel Swenson; her second mom, Mildred Staley and her second dad Florian Erhart; her brother and sister-in-laws, Marci and John Tanzer, Merrick and Rhonda Swenson, Nels and Kerry Swenson and scores of nieces and nephews. We love you. 

Funeral services were held Aug. 29 with a graveside service following at the Spangle Cemetery. Donations gladly will be accepted in Laura's name by the Spokane Chapter of the National Diabetes Association. Visit her online guestbook at cheneyfuneral.com.