Lanae Day Plass

In Loving Memory of Lanae Day Plass   February 5, 1943 – February 7, 2025

With hearts heavy with grief yet overflowing with love, we announce the passing of our beloved Lanae Day Plass, who left this world peacefully on February 7, 2025, at the age of 82. Though dementia took hold in her final years, it could never erase the light she brought to this world, nor the profound love she gave to all who knew her.

Lanae was more than a mother, grandmother, and friend—she was a beacon of warmth, joy, and kindness. Her smile was bright enough to soften even the hardest of days, and her laughter was the kind that filled a room and settled deep into your heart. She had a way of making you feel safe, seen, and valued—whether you had known her your whole life or had just met her on one of her cherished walks through the Preston neighborhood.

Born on February 5, 1943, as Lanae Day, she dedicated her life to raising three children with unconditional love and unwavering support: her son Kevin Mounteer, her daughter Anisa Barts, and her youngest son, Cody Mounteer. To her, motherhood was not simply a role; it was her heart’s work. She poured herself into her children, teaching them resilience, kindness, and the beauty of finding joy in everyday moments.

Her love only grew as she became a grandmother—a role that truly made her shine. She adored Kevin’s children—Jessica Wilkinson, Ryan Wilkinson, and Harley Haagen—and Anisa’s children—Tarron Barts and Arisa Barts. She also embraced Anisa’s adopted children as her own, loving them deeply and making sure they always knew they had a grandmother who cherished them. To all of her grandchildren, she was a steady hand to hold, a listening ear, and a source of endless warmth. She celebrated their victories, comforted their hurts, and reminded them daily that they were deeply loved.

Later in life, Lanae found companionship with her husband, Vern Plass. Though their journey together was not always perfect, he was a part of her later chapters, and his passing left an undeniable space in her life.

Perhaps the greatest heartbreak, however, was the loss of her youngest son, Cody. But in a bittersweet mercy, dementia shielded her from the knowledge of his passing. She was spared the pain, though those who loved her carried that grief on her behalf. Even in the fog of her illness, her heart still seemed to know he was with her in spirit.

Lanae found joy in the simple pleasures that made life rich—her beloved cats who were constant companions, her garden that bloomed under her gentle touch, and her daily walks through the neighborhood where she waved at familiar faces and made strangers feel like friends. Even as dementia took more and more from her, it never took her spirit. She continued to walk—making laps around her care home—her resilience and warmth still evident in every step.

Her life was a lesson in love: love for family, love for neighbors, love for the quiet beauty of a flower, and love for the laughter shared around a kitchen table. She taught us to slow down, to appreciate the little things, and to hold those we love close. Her kindness was not grand or showy—it was in the gentle, everyday acts that made you feel special and cared for.

Though our hearts ache in her absence, we find comfort knowing that she is now truly at peace. We imagine her being reunited with Cody, perhaps walking hand in hand, her laughter ringing out once more. The lessons she taught us—the importance of patience, kindness, and finding joy in the ordinary—will live on through the family she cherished so deeply.

Lanae was our heart, our home, our sunshine. Her love will never fade.

A celebration of Lanae’s life will be held at a later date. In her honor, we encourage you to take a walk, plant a flower, or simply show kindness to someone who needs it—because that is the legacy Lanae left for all of us.