Our loving angel of care and life left us the early morning hour of January 5, 2019, during a family trip to Hawaii. The impact of her loss has been felt by many people across this nation.
She was born Darla Dean Lorenzen on December 19, 1957, in Topeka, Kansas, to her parents Colleen and Paul Dean Lorenzen. She was the first child of three and the only daughter. Darla’s family moved to Chandler, Arizona when she was nine years old.
Darla graduated from Chandler High School in 1976, where she was an active member of Job’s Daughters and served as the chapter president during her senior year. She was accepted into the University of Arizona and spent her freshman year in pursuit of a nursing degree. However, she put her education on hold for a few years when she met the love of her life and accepted her “Mrs.” instead, marrying Leonard Lee Ordway in 1978.In 1980, she restarted her pursuit of a RN degree at Pima Community College in Tucson, AZ and graduated in 1983. In later years of her professional career, she earned her BA degree in Health Arts from the University of Saint Francis in Joliet, IL in 2006.
She worked at the Tucson Medical Center from 1978 to 1984, initially as a unit coordinator and eventually as a RN. From 1984 to 1989, she worked at Kingman Regional Medical Center in Northwest Arizona. There, she served in the Surgery Department for three years, the Emergency Room for two years and as one of the first crew of flight nurses on the DPS Ranger Helicopter for four years. From 1989 to 2007, she worked at Desert Samaritan Hospital in Mesa, AZ. There, she served in the Surgery Department as a staff nurse, assistant director, and senior clinical manager. From 2007 to 2008, she worked at Paradise Valley Hospital as the Director of Surgical Services. From 2008 to 2019, she worked at Carondelet St. Mary’s Hospital in Tucson, AZ. There, she served as a staff nurse and perioperative services manager.
Darla was a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and dear friend. She is the daughter of and is survived by Colleen and Dean. She is the sister and soulmate of her brothers Jerold Lorenzen and Ricky Lorenzen (wife Trish). She is the wife of Leonard and the mother of Brandon Ordway (wife Katie) and Laura Grande (husband A.J.). Darla is the grandmother of Owen, Adlee, Joni, and Rylen. She was very proud of her family’s and children’s accomplishments, and her crown jewels were her four grandbabies.
Professionally, Darla was a member of the Association of Operating Room Nurses. During her tenure, she served as President-Elect of the Grand Canyon Chapter, President for the Southern Arizona Chapter, and President of the Salt River Chapter. She was honored as a “Tucson Fab 50 Nurse” in 2014.
Hobbies and interests included: reading, biking, shopping, travel, outdoor activities, and her pet dogs. She was regularly involved in and donated her time to community health awareness and care.
Darla’s life was dedicated to providing for family, friends, and patients. She always ensured the wellness of others before her own needs. She was fun-loving and a friend to thousands. She had life-long friends from her school days that carried through to adulthood. She recreated and celebrated with her closest friends weekly. She was looking forward to retirement and her future as a full-time grandma.
Darla will be missed by everyone she touched. The outpouring of support and love to her family has been amazing. Those wishing to contribute in her memory, in lieu of flowers, Darla would certainly prefer you have a family gathering, take a photo opportunity and celebrate life. She will be remembered by her charming smile, her laugh, a glass of fine wine and her “Darla-isms.”
