Regina Prankaitis McLaughlin, 72, passed away peacefully on October 15, 2026, surrounded by love, after a courageous two-year journey with metastatic bladder cancer.

Regina was a poet, an artist, and a collector who found joy in her Lithuanian heritage, music, creativity, nature, and the smallest of things. She loved trees, the earth, cooking, her animals, and above all, her family. Never passing up a prayer or blessing, she delighted in the beauty of the world and the wonder of everyday life.

A true original, Regina moved through life with courage, strength, fortitude, and resilience. Unafraid to be herself, she made space for herself wherever she went, never feeling the need to mold herself to fit the expectations of others. She possessed an enduring zest for life and believed that life was not about waiting for the storm to pass; rather, it was about learning to dance in the rain.

In her later years, Regina found particular joy in being a grandmother and great-grandmother, sharing her love of nature, creativity, and discovery with those closest to her.

She will be remembered for her originality, her fierce spirit, her appreciation of beauty, and her capacity to find joy even in difficult times. Her legacy lives on in the love she gave, the lives she touched, and the invitation she leaves us all to live more courageously, notice beauty everywhere, and love one another deeply.