Our dear Reafala Julia (Loretta) Sorenson passed away on August 28, 2025 at the age of 92. She was born on the first day of spring March 20,1933 in Seattle to Genevieve (Babette) Harris-Bitonti and Batista St. John Bitonti. 

They lived as a family in Kodiak, Alaska where she shared her early childhood years with her dear sister Michelina. Later she relocated to Eureka with her mother and sister, where her mother remarried Ernest Yates and her brother Butch was born.

Loretta met the love of her life Lawrence Sorensen, whom she married in Marietta, Georgia while he was active in the military. They resided in Eureka in a home built by Lawrence and raised three wonderful children together. 

Loretta made sure all her family felt special. Her home was like a second home to many of her grandchildren. Loretta contributed much to the local community with her years working in the classroom at Jacobs Jr. High and as a kindergarten aide at Jefferson Elementary School. 

She is preceded in passing by her husband Lawrence Sr. and their son Lawrence Sorensen Jr., his son Derek Sorensen and granddaughter, Leslie Renee Woodward. She is survived by her daughters, Linnette & Brad Woodward and Leslie Nickols, her sister Mickey’s daughters Maureen, Monique, Marcy and Shelley, her brother Butch’s daughters, Jeanee Nichols-Buster, Kristiane Sapiente-Gill, Triniti Ponnay, and many grandchildren and their families: Brandy & Seth Senestraro, Paxton Woodward, Reider Woodward, Rebecca & Danny Adamson, Jeneka Hickok & Steve Viehmann, Benjamin & Lani (Rastorfer) Hickok, Shawna & Rodrigo Ibarra, Billy Nickols, Jonathan Nickols, Dustin Nickols, Crystal Craven and many great-grandchildren who brought her much delight.

A service celebrating Loretta’s life will be held at Goble’s Fortuna Mortuary in Fortuna, 560 12th Street Fortuna, CA 95540 on September 13, 2025, at 2 p.m.

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