Celebrating the Life of
Lori Malfa-Rich
October 5, 1957 — August 7, 2023
Obituary
Lori Jean Malfa-Rich was born on October 5th, 1957 at Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton, Massachusetts to Concetta Mary Cangemi and Charles Frederick Malfa. Lori was the middle of six children: Todd, Tab, Lori, Brad, Tracey and Ross. At 13 Frost Street in Natick, MA she had a tough childhood and grew up quickly; making her into a strong, smart, independent woman. She worked as a waitress among other odd jobs to put herself through college at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams and earned her bachelors degree in business administration and management. While looking for a job in her field, a friend referred her to someone hiring named Jim Rich. The two met and Lori immediately disliked him, she thought he was an arrogant ass! But after speaking with him she realized her first impression was wrong and she was hired as his employee. It didn’t hurt that he owned a used car lot and she needed a car! Not long after that he asked her out and they started dating.
They broke up once during their seven year courtship. One time when they were separated, Lori went on a date with someone else. After her date, Lori’s car broke down on the drive home and she walked to the closest residence to ask to use their landline. While she was making the call, there was a knock at the door and Lori was surprised to hear the puzzled homeowner say to her “It’s for you...?” and standing there was Jim! He had apparently followed Lori while she went on the date, witnessed her car break down and came to the rescue.
Lori Jean Malfa married James Freeman Rich on October 27th, 1987 at Waquoit Congregational Church and held the after party at their Cape Cod home, Whistler Way. Whistler Way was a beautiful, sprawling property the couple had built together. It was a light and bright home sitting on an acre of land which became the hub of all their friends and family get togethers.
On August 15th, 1990 Lori gave birth to a beautiful baby girl she named Chloe. Right away Chloe was her pride and joy, a tiny 5 pound baby with firey red hair who people always stopped in the street to admire. They called her "a little porcelain doll." Becoming a new mother was hard for Lori, especially when they moved 1,500 miles away to Marco Island, Florida where she had no friends or family to speak of. Jim worked full time at DeVoe Cadillac so it was just Lori and Chloe in their little apartment by the beach. Anxiety and postpartum depression were real, and Lori sought counseling to cope. Eventually they moved into a house in Naples, Florida and soon after Lori met Noreen Edlund at BodyQuest Gym. Anyone who knows Lori knows she is a health and fitness freak. Noreen and her family are still to this day the Rich’s second family.
Lori would say she is a "self proclaimed" techie. She worked as teacher at VoTech School in Naples and started her own computer tutoring business for people who needed at-home help. Her business brought many wonderful clients she came to consider dear friends after years gone by.
In 2002 the family moved to Nokomis, Florida into a big yellow house where they happily lived for the next 17 years. They got a dog after Chloe begged and pleaded for years for a specifically, blonde, chihuahua. Ironically Jim’s first wife Diana had a litter of chihuahua puppies that had one single blonde pup. Diana intended to sell the puppies but grew too attached, so each grandchild conveniently got a new chihuahua puppy. Chloe's was named Uno (she was the first one out!) and she was the perfect addition to the family. They swooned over Uno every day as if it was the day they got her. She was spoiled rotten. A total princess, a queen, diva, and definitely the most important member of the family! As Chloe got older and went off to college, Uno became Lori's dog. The two of them were literally attached. Lori fed her a healthy diet of vegetables and protein, even splurging sometimes on Uno's favorite - lamb. Every day she drove Uno to one of their local parks to give the little nine-pound dog a walk twice a day.
In 2012, Lori began working at AT&T where she met Sue, Rich, and others with whom she formed a friendship and had many good times with both in and out of the store. However it was soon time to expand her career. She came across a job post advertising the opening of an Apple store in Sarasota and contemplated applying. "Why would they hire an old lady like me?" she wondered aloud to Chloe, not thinking she would be any good. “Oh what the heck," she said as she finally applied and effortlessly got through the first round of interviews, then the second, then was staying in Tampa for a week-long training for the grand opening of the store! Lori not only survived at the new Apple store, but thrived. She climbed to the top with customer ratings and bonded with her Apple family. She talked about Apple all the time at home, whether it was a fitness challenge, a cranky or famous customer she had that day, the Goddess Group, a product that she would be presenting to her team, or Franklin's "to die for" mac and cheese. Lori was genuinely interested in all the latest and greatest Apple gadgets and continuing her education in the industry. But more importantly to her, she loved her Apple family deeply and was greatly valued in reciprocity.
Lori's life changed drastically when her husband was diagnosed with dementia. This was an incredibly hard pill to swallow and sadness washed over her as she came to the realization her husband and rock was slipping away. Life wasn't happy. Weeks turned to months turned to years as she transitioned from wife to caregiver; a role that demanded everything from her. There were still moments of joy and her iconic laughter, but a gloominess was underlying.
In 2020 Lori was diagnosed with mucosal melanoma. At this time the seriousness wasn’t known, and after a minor surgery she thought that was that. In 2023 it came back with a vengeance and treatments were not working. She was told the next step will be a massive surgery but this was her worst nightmare. Loved ones begged and pleaded and reluctantly Lori agreed to the surgery. Unfortunately the cancer had already spread and after only one round of chemo, she bounced back to the ER four times in two months with complications, pain, and infections. The infections eventually took over. Her body had been through so much.
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Lori is a gem. A sweet-natured, warm and naturally caring person. She's also cool, calm, and collected. Her qualities made her a wonderful, loving friend to so many. Dozens of people have come forward and said Lori has been their rock... She's a sounding board friends went to in times of turmoil.... A confidant and judgement-free zone. She was always the voice of positivity and looked for the good in others and in situations. And then there was her dorky side.
Anyone who's heard her rap, shake her hips totally off beat, or tell a dad-joke would shake their head, face palm, and laugh. But that is Lori. So genuinely dorky and silly and always striving to have fun.
From Chloe: Growing up my mom and I had a typical mother/daughter relationship. We fought a lot. As a child I had unique needs and in middle and high school there was tension between us. However, as I got older we became quite close. I started my journey of self betterment and elevating my consciousness. I realized there was trauma passed down through mother/daughter relationships in our family. I realized she is a flawed human being but she did not have a mean bone in her body. I realized she did the best she could with the tools she had, and that she loved me more than anything in this world. In my career I preferred seasonal jobs and I always had a cozy warm home to come back to thanks to her. We spent many nights on the couch watching shows and laughing. We took daily walks together and she asked what was on my mind. She was my best friend, my rock, the person in my corner, the glue that held me together.
When we were faced with the terrible last leg of her cancer journey, I loved her as fiercely as I could. I was by her side every step of the way. When she was home, I slept in her bed and set alarms through the night for her medications. I rubbed her back when she was nauseated and got sick. I picked out her clothes and helped her shower. When she was home for the last time, I gave her her last pedicure. I meticulously applied pink sparkly nail polish that was still on her toes when she died. Our roles switched during those months and I am so grateful I got to reflect back the love she gave me. I hope she understood how loved, cherished, and cared for she was and still is.
When you spoke to my mom even for a moment you would immediately feel special. She had a warm gentleness that wrapped around you and a sharp mind that remembered details about your life you might’ve even forgot you told her. She is quirky, smart, silly, unique, kind, fun, brave, strong, and so incredibly beautiful INSIDE and OUT. The world and a massive amount of people have lost a truly special and bright human that made this a better place. I will miss her for the rest of my life. Thank you for creating me and giving me a wonderful life Mom. We were first connected in the womb but we will always be connected; it is a bond that cannot be severed, not even by death. I love you to infinity and beyond. My beautiful Mama.
Memories and Condolences
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I can count on one hand the people in my life who can calm me down by just their voice; even less-so with an infectious smile. Yet without knowing it, you became my standard metric if I was lucky enough to stumble across any of those stars. I remember feeling like I was special, but was quickly humbled witnessing the vast number of lives you've ripened. Explaining this phenomenon to people who'd never experienced it would be implausible. After meeting you for the first time, NOT understanding it would be impossible. You radiated warmth like the sun, and everyone who had the experience of meeting you was drawn to it. I remember seeing you at the Apple store; wanting to say "hello", I waited about 40 minutes before I finally got that chance. By that time the surrounding crowd had only grown. It was so fitting you worked at the Apple store. I would often peek through the giant glass store window to see if you were working, identifying only by the groves of people who continued to surround you, drawn to that ecstatic warmth. You have adorned my life and so many others. Thank you for sharing your soft words and infinite smile, but most of all, thank you for letting us steal some of your magnanimous brightness and beauty.
You where a friend, but more than that you where like a mother to me, everything you give, did, and teach me I will never forget and I will keep living with the same values you teach me. I love you and I will keep you in my heart for the rest of my life. Until we meet again. Rest in peace, God Bless 💜
Gone but never forgotten, my lovely friend Lori. I first met Lori in 1992 at BodyQuest gym in Naples. We were both at an aerobics class standing beside each other doing our dance moves while the male instructor ‘Nick’ led the class. Nick was wearing a very revealing and tight all in one black spandex. Unknown to Nick when he bent down, his outfit split at the rear almost spilling out his Crown Jewels! This cracked Lori and I up so much that we couldn’t contain ourselves and kept giggling until the class ended. That was my first and most rewarding moment I met Lori. Just like me, was a ‘newbie’ to the area and it so happened lived in the same development as as me. Our friendship bloomed from that moment on. Lori loved to dance, and for her 40th my husband and I threw her a party with many fun surprises. She loved every second of it and we danced the legs off ourselves for the evening. In the process of meeting Lori, we also got to meet her husband Jim and two year old daughter Chloe. Her family became our family and we spent many times together. Our friendship continued when the family moved to Venice. Lori there will be a big void in my life without you in it. Please give Jim and your beautiful daughter Chloe, the strength and the spiritual guidance to continue in your absence. Farewell my lovely friend. Until we meet again 💝💐 Photos will follow
Santa Fe, NM 2018
At Don and my wedding in December 1988. Diane, Vinnie, Sue, Bob, Lori, Jim, Lynne and Steve. Don and I are missing from the photo!
In 2007 after dinner at Sharkys
Lori and I in our 20s at the Cape
Lori and I met in 8th grade. I felt an instant connection with her and we became close friends. She has remained constant over the years – a loyal friend who is warm, funny, smart, and the life of the party. In junior high and high school our group of “Natick” friends shared so many laughs, long talks and crazy adventures. We would play whist for hours, talk about “boys,” get lost going to the beach, and gorge on ice cream and junk food late at night. After graduating college, Lori, Sue and I, along with three others, rented a house in Falmouth for the summer. We worked, enjoyed afternoons at the beach and spent many late nights at the Casino by the Sea. By the end of August, Lori had a new boyfriend and decided to stay on the Cape. Soon after that relationship ended, she met Jim. Despite their age difference, they were meant to be. Spending weekends at the apartment she rented in Harwich Port and then later at the house on Whistler Way in East Falmouth was so fun. So many fond memories. Lori and Jim were great hosts and their shared sense of humor was very entertaining. I was so bummed when they decided to move to Florida, and always hoped they would move back to Massachusetts. Over the years, I visited Lori, Jim and Chole on Marco Island, Naples, Nokomis and Venice and got together with them when they came back to visit family and friends in Massachusetts. I’m so thankful that our group of Natick friends continued to make memories and planned get togethers to Florida, New Hampshire, Vermont, Washington, DC and Santa Fe. Time together was priceless. I believe Lori was a best friend to many of us. And if you were asked to describe your perfect friend, it would be Lori. I am devastated for the loss of Lori, but am grateful and blessed to have been her friend for so many years. In one of the last text messages we exchanged she wrote, “Love remains when everything else is gone.” She will remain in my heart forever.
Lori’s high school graduation photo
Kennedy Junior High
Pretty much sums her up. My favorite line is "Wish I still had 'em" 😂❤️
Rapping about a coworker who's name is Wynn 🤪
Their engagement photoshoot. This was my dad's plane!
She loved her wine! Mostly Chardonnay but she wasn't picky!!!
Graduation - the red ribbon meant Honor's Society. She was SO smart!
Mom and some of the "Natick Girls" on a girls' trip!
She's so beautiful <3
Her last birthday
Nightly lounging with Snow
A night event at Selby Botanical Gardens with her Goddess Group from Apple :-)
Taken 32 days before she died. I was about to cut her hair, she wanted it shorter in preparation for the chemo
Cards and flowers sent by loved ones
Chloe, Thank you for sharing your beautiful tribute and obituary to Pam. What an incredible honor it has been to be a part of your mother’s journey. Within the first conversation I knew she was a special person- being from Massachusetts myself, I liked her direct and thoughtful approach when discussing the possibility of working together. What was most impressive to witness was your beautiful relationship and the complete love and respect you each had for each other. Pam and I feel truly honored to be a part of her journey to help these last couple of months. I am so grateful our team was able to help bring comfort, and relieve some of the burden by providing our professional guidance. 🙏 you are a remarkable person, Chloe .