A lot has changed in Lori Callahan's life since she last performed her stand-up comedy in the Tri-Cities.

"It's been a rough year," Callahan said via email this week. "My husband passed away in April after a long illness and my mom nearly died the same week from complications from a knee replacement."

But the Denver native is a firm believer that humor can help a person through the toughest and saddest of times.

"I'm doing pretty good considering," she said. "I'm heartbroken, but my spirit is not. I refuse to be a victim.

"To top it all off, I've lost more than 165 pounds and I'm really proud of that."

Callahan performs her hilarious shtick Oct. 20-22 at Jokers Comedy Club in Richland. Showtime is 8:30 p.m. Cover is $10 at the door. The show is open to the 21 and older crowd only.

Callahan is known in her hometown as the "Mom of Denver comedy," which she literally lives up to, as she looks upon the younger comics as her cubs, she said.

She has toured with Paula Poundstone, Will Durst and Thea Vidal, and made appearances on Showtime's Comedy Club Network and ESPN's The Lighter Side of Sports.

Her comedy encompasses a swath of topics from all the jobs she has tackled in her life -- construction, welding, banking, surveying for the Denver State Highway Department -- as well as marriage, moms and weight loss.

*Dori O'Neal: 582-1514; doneal@tricityherald.com