Rona K Chorman 1955-2010

Rona K. Chorman, 54, of Glenwood Springs, Colorado passed away June 8, 2010 in the hospice care of her family and friends at the home of Erin, Bill, and Kelton Lee. She was attended by those closest to her and passed peacefully and painlessly in a loving atmosphere.

Rona was born June 19, 1955, in Painesville, Ohio to Ronald Ray and Nancy Ann Billig Chorman. Following the completion of her RN degree at the Lutheran Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio in 1976, she attended Baldwin-Wallace College where she attained a BA in psychology. After residing in Novelty, Ohio and Aspen, Colorado she moved to Glenwood Springs in 1989 and worked for 21 years at Valley View Hospital. For the last 13 years she held the job she enjoyed the most, Employee Health Nurse, guiding her co-workers to pursue healthier lifestyles.

Rona traveled throughout the United States and parts of Latin America and Europe. Her travels served to reinforce her love for Glenwood Springs. She embraced the community and gave generously of her focused energy to the causes she held most important. In particular she was instrumental in establishing the Downtown Market, which has added immensely to the quality of life in Glenwood Springs since 2005.

Through the Kelsey’s Kids Foundation, another pursuit close to fulfillment for Rona is the creation of a fun marshmallow-launcher to help hospitalized children gain respiratory strength. Her devotion to children is well recognized, in particular her love for Kelton Lee, Nathan Spence-Chorman, and John Harr.

A special pastime for Rona was building a tree-house on her property near Crested Butte, Colorado where she escaped to the cool summer forest. She also enjoyed sharing hours of family time with the Lees at their cabin by the river in Rifle. Friday evenings regularly meant Mexican fare with buddies at a local restaurant. She had an uncanny knack for finding meaningful time to share with each member of her wide circle of friends.

Kachemak Bay, Alaska held significance for Rona where she worked for two years with her brother Dale as a deckhand aboard the natural history tour boat, MV Dena’ina. She visited Homer, Alaska regularly where she enjoyed the local waters rimmed by glaciers and volcanoes and built up a solid group of friends. She carried away from Homer a fondness for fresh salmon and halibut and smoked black cod.

Rona will be remembered by loved ones of all ages as a woman extraordinaire: nurse, counselor, caregiver, home builder, naturalist, outdoorsman, traveler, deckhand, seamstress, craftsman, equestrian, gardener, role model and spirit guide.

Rona was preceded in death by her brother Mark Chorman, of Cleveland, Ohio. She is survived by her parents, Ronald Ray Chorman and Nancy Ann Billig Chorman, of St. Joseph, Missouri; her brother, Dale Chorman, sister-in-law Dianne Spence-Chorman, and nephew Nathan Spence-Chorman of Homer, Alaska; her brother, Michael Chorman, and nephews Matthew and Jamie Chorman, and niece Stormy Chorman of Cleveland, Texas; and dear friends Erin, Bill, and Kelton Lee and Maggie and Rick Seymour of Glenwood Springs.

In lieu of flowers, Rona requested contributions be made to the Downtown Market, which intends to establish a scholarship fund in her name. Contributions may be sent directly to the Downtown Market at P.O. Box 2831, Glenwood Springs.

This should post in the News-Herald on Sunday. I have ordered copies to send to Dale and Diane.