Loni Kay Shorten
April 27, 1968 - March 24, 2020
Obituary
It is with extreme sadness that the family of Loni Kay (Wendel) Shorten announce her passing on March 24, 2020. Loni was 51.
Loni was born in Huntsville, Alabama. She grew up in the greater Seattle area graduating from Lindbergh High School in 1986. She received her bachelor degree from the University of Washington.
Loni served in the United States Army during the Gulf War as a linguist speaking Farsi.
Loni spent most of her career at the Port of Tacoma. Over her 19 years with the Port, her role evolved to a Human Resource Manager. She was a dedicated employee who was loved and well respected by her co-workers.
Loni was a caring wife and an involved and incredibly loving mom. Her witty sense of humor and sweetness always made it fun to be around her.
She had a very giving spirit and donated her time and energy to help others. She spent many hours coordinating her Port of Tacoma co-workers and family member to help at the Emergency Food Network re-packing donated food or participating in fundraising.
Loni is survived by and will always be lovingly remembered by her parents Ted & Marlys Wendel, her husband Doug Shorten and daughter Sophie Shorten, her three sisters Linda (Joe) Wendel-Walters, Loretta (Mark) Glodowski and Lisa Wendel. She also will be missed by many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Loni will be laid to rest at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Covington, WA. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions can be made to the Emergency Food Network or a charity of your choice.
So sad to hear of her passing. She was my survivor sister going through breast cancer and radiation together. I will miss her gentle spirit. I know my sister welcomed her with open arms. Hugs!
Hi Sue, sorry for your loss, and thank you for your message. I am sorry your have endured Cancer yourself, i hope you are well. My sister was a fighter to the end and I will always miss her. My sister and my best friend. She was truly a gem.
She was so sweet and thoughtful. I’ll miss her, but will always remember her. Bless her for eternity and her family, sorry for your loss.
Thank you for that heartfelt response and I am so sorry she has passed. She was extraordinary.
You’re always in our hearts Loni. We love you and miss you.
You are the best Esther and Eddie – I miss my brown eyed girl, my sister, my best friend. I know you all had lots of good times together; my heart is broken. Much love to you and Esther, it is a loss for all of us.
We at the Port of Tacoma were so fortunate to have Loni with us. Her professionalism was unmatched. We could always count on Loni to provide complete and accurate information about complex issues. And she was so kind to everyone. Thank you for sharing her with us.
Loni was a friend and a great Co-worker. She could be trusted with anything. She had no reservations about telling you “her truths” it also had a great listening skills even when you disagree with the outcome.
She will be missed and that Great smile. Take are Loni and your family. Gods Blessings Louis
You will be missed Loni. Thank you for all the fun memories of sharing Candy Crush tips and secrets, along with sharing and comparing all the good sales while we shopped for charity causes. Those memories will be treasured.
Having worked with Loni over the past 19 years here at the Port it was crushing news to here of her passing. She was one of the most wonderful individuals to work with, always pleasant and helpful. My sincere condolences to her family, especially her husband and daughter. Rest assured she will always be looking out for you for the rest of your lives, as was her nature.
I never met a kinder person in my life. She was a wonderful co-worker, and she made us all better people. My heartfelt condolences to her family.
This is an incredible loss for sweet Loni’s family and her Port of Tacoma family. Loni’s role was help everyone navigate better, on their first day, and as their work continued. Her sweet, caring nature made her exceptional at that, and I hope she knew it was appreciated and will forever leave a void. We were so blessed to have her with us. I am sending so much love and light to her family, and continue to hold you all in my prayers.
From the first day you join the port, Loni was there to welcome you with her warm personality and always positive outlook. She will be very missed by many. My condolences to your family.
Loni was truly one of kind. We are still at a loss of words to hear of her passing. I’m glad to have known her as a colleague and Blessed to have called her my friend. My sincerest condolences and prayers to both the Shorten & Wendel family. Those who are truly Loved are Never Lost. Till we meet again my friend.
I am so sorry for your loss! Loni was delightful. I will always remember her smile and laughter. She will be missed and will forever be in our hearts. All my love to her family during this difficult time.
Sweet Donna, thank you for your response. I know this passing of my sister must trigger emotions of Baron passing because they were both so was so young. It is heartbreaking. Thank you sweet Donna, we are all hurting. Of course my favorite memory with you and her was when your nephew was celebrating his graduation and playing football in your back yard! Thank you Sweetheart – you mean the world to me.
Loni demonstrated kindness, patience and love in everything she did. I had the pleasure of working with her at the Port of Tacoma and volunteering with her at Emergency Food Network. While those places will now be forever changed, the memories we shared will be cherished. Her light will be carried on by the people she inspired. My sincere condolences and prayers to the family.
Thank you Tonya for that beautiful response. I will always remember my sister as being caring, witty and a giver. She Loved EFN; it was her passion. Thank you.
Our heart breaks with the news of Loni’s passing. She was far to young to leave us. I will forever treasure the memories of her visiting us in Montana, to sharing family time in her folks home. Her smile lit up the room everytime. We will miss you cousin!
Loni was always very helpful and a joy to work with at the port. My sincerest condolences to her family.
So many lives touched in a life cut short. Loni was thoughtful, kind, and compassionate, a model for us all. I hope that in her memory we might all incorporate those traits more often in our own actions. Please know that despite the ongoing pandemic the world is facing, keeping us from expressing our thoughts in-person, the loss of Loni has been felt deeply by her port family. My sincerest condolences go out to her family for such an immense loss.
I feel fortunate to have met Loni during my comparatively short time with the Port. She had a gentle way about her – and such a beautiful voice and smile. My heart goes out to her family. I’m so sorry for your loss. I know that she will be deeply missed at the Port.
I did not know Loni well, but interacted with her via related HR activities. I could always tell she was kind and helpful. I saw that in emails and in person. She was also kind enough to attend some meetings here in Seattle, having to drive through brutal rush hour traffic from Tacoma for no other reason than to help improve a service our firm was providing to the HR community. I think that speaks volumes about her generosity and willingness to help.
Loni your memory will live on in all of us. You were always willing to help us all and we will be better for knowing you. May God grant you and your family eternal peace.
Loni was such a kind and caring person. I feel truly blessed to have worked with her at the Port and EFN. She will live on in all of those who have known her. My deepest sympathies to her family.
I was privileged to have Loni in my life as a close colleague and a friend for a little more than two years, and I am so grateful for that time. I can only echo what others here have expressed. Loni was extraordinarily kind, empathetic, dedicated, tirelessly helpful to others, and a pleasure to be around. Loni also had a great sense of humor which occasionally would catch me by surprise because I always knew – no matter what Loni said in jest – that she was sincerely such a nice person at heart.
Her memory will always stay with me, and it serves as a reminder that we can always strive to be at our best during the limited time we have together. Loni’s untimely death is a profound loss for anyone who had the pleasure of knowing her, of course none more so than her family and loved ones. You have my deepest condolences for this loss.
Loni was a beautiful, crazy fun…with that wicked Wendel sense of humor that I have come to cherish. From the first minute you met Loni, she welcomed you like family. My condolences to her husband, daughter and the rest of the family. Loni’s light in this world will be greatly missed.
I will miss you friend. I will miss our talks together at the Port and I will miss our time spent together at EFN. I appreciate the incite you gave me regarding life and the light you shined when you walked into a room. Peace be with you.
My heart is very heavy with the news of Loni passing. Loni and I worked hand in hand for 7 years in the HR department at the Port. She was my first friend at the Port and I was so thankful to have her as my co-worker. We shared many laughs, some tears and a lot of good conversations, thanks for those! She was smart, fun, kind and beautiful. There will never be another like her and she is going to be deeply missed. Thanks for being my friend. RIP, no more pain my friend. Till we meet again and we will. My thoughts and prayers go out to Doug and Sophie and of course her family and friends. XOXOXOXO
Rest in love and peace Loni.
Loni’s passing is such a great loss for our entire Port family.
She was always there to help employees with questions, issues and challenges they might have been facing.
Our Port’s entire outreach effort to hep fight hunger through our employee volunteer repacking efforts with the Emergency Food Network would never have happened without Loni’s great initiative and leadership.
I feel honored to have worked with her for so many years at the Port.
She cared deeply about every member of the Port of Tacoma family. She helped so many of us in more ways than we might ever realize.
I always admired her dedication to our Port family, her own family, the Emergency Food Network, and so much more.
Loni gave so much of herself, exhibiting the hallmarks of a life dedicated to service. She was funny, kind, warm, and she listened with every fiber of her being that made her friends feel heard and cared for.
Loni had such a kind and calming spirit about her. I’m proud to have known such a wonderful lady. My condolences to Doug, Sophie and the rest of the family. May God comfort you all!
Thank you Michelle for those beautiful comments. My sister was a giver and loved her family and the work she did at the Port. It is a hard time for all of us to be without her, but she will never be forgotten,
So sad to hear of Loni’s passing. Life is definitely short and feels like not too distant ago Loni started her career at the port. Loni’s ability to be personable has been a treasure. She will be missed. To the family a heartfelt sorrow for your loss. I pray that your time in mourning you can find joy in the life Loni lived touching many lives. Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit… a verse I hold dear to me in my darkest times. Take care of yourselves and remember to hold each other a little tighter and share your I love you’s daily. <3 <3 <3
Thank you Liz for that beautiful response. I am Loni’s sister. We will miss her every day and now is so raw to know she is gone. Thank you for your words of comfort and biblical references.
So sad to hear of Loni’s passing
I worked with her at the Port and enjoyed every conversation we had. She will be sorely missed.
Thank you Kirk for responding. It is truly a sad time and she will be sorely missed. I am happy that you were able to know her.
Loni was a beautiful person inside and out. She will be missed.
thank you Anna for your response. She was so beautiful inside and out, I agree.
With much sadness, I send my condolences to the family. Loni was a kind co-worker of mine at the Port of Tacoma for many years and she will be truly missed. Kathy Purdy
Sharon Snyder,
Loni was a wonderful person and very caring. My prayers go out to the family for the loss of such a wonderful woman, mother, daughter, and sister. God bless.
Thank you for your response. I am Loni’s sister. I appreciate your response and I am so happy you knew Loni. She will be forever missed.
I feel extremely blessed to have had Loni as my Best Friend for over 40 years. She has been my rock, my support, and my confidant. We had so many wonderful times together! She’s always made me so happy with her cheerful demeanor, wonderful laugh, and her witty nature. She is definitely one of the most caring and giving people I’ve ever known. I am so sorry you have left this earth too soon Loni, but I know you will always be with me, and I cherish our memories. All my love to Loni’s Family.💖
Sweet Esther – Thank you for that most beautiful response and Eddies too. I am heartbroken over the loss of my beautiful sister. I lost my sister and my best friend too soon. She loved you dearly and you were such a close confident to hers, partners in crime, though I don’t have those details, but wish I did; Loni was so much FUN! Her wittiness was always so on point and it always surprised me. She missed her calling as a stand up comedian, but I loved that we always had an intimate show of how funny she was.
I miss her. Thank you for that beautiful picture of you and her together,.
It has probably been thirty years since I’ve seen Loni, and hearing this sad news from afar brings so many memories rushing back. My favorite memory of Loni from those days was when some guy insulted her at a frat party where my band was playing. Loni proceeded to teach that fellow some manners using a more aggressive pedagogy than is generally accepted these days, and as she was on our guest list, we had to quit mid-set, pack up all of our gear, and hightail it out of there one step ahead of the mob. She was tough and fun and didn’t take nonsense from anyone back in those days. I hope she held on to those qualities during the rest of her life.
My dear Loni you will be missed by so many of us. I’ve had so many dreams over the years where you played a starring role, always laughing and having fun. Thank you for all the joy you brought into this world.
Deep condolences to Loni’s family and friends. I have fond memories of of Loni from elementary school through highschool. From square dancing in fourth grade to shenanigans right up to highschool graduation group photos. I’m truly sad to hear of Loni’s passing.
Please let me know about when the life celebration will be happening.