Lelani Jean Whitten

Leilani Jean Whitten, age 71 passed away suddenly on March 9th, 2018 in Fortuna, California. She was born in Collbran, Colorado and lived in Hydesville, having spent most of her life in or near Eureka, California. Lani was a loving, caring wife, mother, stepmother, grandmother and great grandmother. She devoted her life to her family, to volunteer and charity work. Lani enjoyed sewing and quilting, crocheting and was a very recent student of knitting. She belonged to the Eel River Quilting Guild where she made many friends and was soon due to be initiated as a member of the Elks Club in Eureka. She was a collector of penguins, pineapples, gingerbread men and dragonflies; that list goes on for quite a way.

She volunteered time with Relay For Life  and the Boys and Girls Club and belonged to other organizations. Lani was an ardent and frequent traveler with a favored destination of Hawaii, multiple trips across the U.S., cruises to Alaska, Hawaii and the Carribean, and many road trips. She had more trips lined up with her daughter Michelle. Her great grandchildren Bella and Kaden loved their overnight stays with GG. She was an excellent cook, having hundreds of cookbooks and thousands of online recipes, always trying new recipes, always baking for holidays or bake sales or just for Gene.

She is survived by her loving husband Gene Whitten, her beloved dog Minnie, her daughters Dina Romero (David), Michelle Hoffman (Rick), son Steven Hoffman (Heather), brother Charles aka "Buzz"(Jen); numerous beloved Aunts, Uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins; stepsons Darryl Hardell (Yvonne), Neil Hardell (Robyn), and Craig Whitten (Abbey) and fourteen grand- and great-grandchildren: Brittany (Kris), Kyle, Madelyn, Damien, Victoria, Julia, Sofia, Maia, Isabella, Meena, Silas, Hannah, Bella and Kaden. She was preceded in death by her father, Charles Goodman, her mother Bella Goodman, her son Eric Hoffman, her brothers Jerry Silva, Mel Silva and Al Silva. Lani was a devoted friend to many.

She loved to laugh and have fun and it seemed she couldn't go anywhere with her finding someone she knew. There were many lives that she touched. Special thanks go to Laurie, Neena and Judy Adams, and many others far too numerous to list. Lani is loved and will be dearly missed everday by family, extended family, and many dear friends. Forever In Our Hearts.

The funeral service will be at Sanders Funeral Home at 1385 E Street in Eureka, California on Friday, March 16th at 2 PM, with visitation from 10 a.m. To 1 p.m. Following the service there will be a pot luck gathering and celebration at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Eureka.

Flowers are welcome or Lani would have welcomed donations to Relay For Life  or the Boys and Girls Club in Eureka in lieu of flowers.