Alina

 I can remember as a little girl visiting her garden on Lemoyne in Chicago and being mesmerized by all the plants and little paths she had created. As a kid, I loved to ask questions, and I would ask her what every plant was called. She would tell me with delight what all the plants were. I loved sitting on the little bench in the middle of that garden and just looking around. I felt like I was in the middle of the garden from The Secret Garden, which was a movie I liked at the time. Lorraine, or Oma as I called her, truly loved to be outdoors nurturing nature! 

I remember a time when we were visiting Tom and Lorraine, or Bopa and Oma as I call them, and it was Easter. The family was getting ready to go to church for the Easter service and my mom had given me strict instructions not to eat any of my Easter basket candy before we left. Well much to my dismay, I noticed Oma was eating a chocolate bar so I exclaimed, "My mom said we can't eat any chocolate before church!" and much like my Oma would, she confidently responded "Well I'm not going so I can do what I want!" It is just one of many examples I have of the strong, independent Oma I knew and admired!

Where do I start? How do I put into words my thoughts, my feelings, my memories, of one of the most amazing woman I have ever met it my life? Lorraine, to the end, was a strong, independent, determined woman. She was a role model for everyone around her (especially for the two little girls, who would grow to call her step-mom and the two little girls who called her Oma). Lorraine was never afraid to go out in the world and try new things. She was the type of person who loved an adventure (like going away to college in another state, driving by herself to California, or taking a group of us kids camping). She knew she could accomplish anything she set her mind to and she instilled that confidence in those around her. She definitely helped mold me into the woman I am today. Before I started to write this, I closed my eyes and thought back to my first memories of Lorraine. I saw Lorraine as a beautiful Near North Montessori teacher, with the prettiest long red hair and the biggest smile ever. She was sitting on the floor, on a carpet, surrounded by children, leaning over giving a lesson. I imagine if she were here today, she would find my memory, or vision, if you want to call it that, a very happy place for her to be. When I think of Lorraine, I think of her love of children, how she loved to teach, loved to read, and loved to share her love of learning and reading with everyone around her. I have many memories of reading with Lorraine, as a child. If I close my eyes again, I see her reading to Alina and Rebecca, when they were little, taking them to the library, and telling them stories. I think about her love of plants and flowers and the beautiful gardens that were a part of every home in which she lived. Growing up, I was always amazed by her green thumb and consider her one of the most talented gardeners I have ever known. She instilled in me a love of plants and flowers. All the plants, and definitely all the little vases and bottles with cuttings growing in water that are all over my house, are an example of Lorraine's influence on me. As are the little boxes and little collectables that I own. I have so many memories of coming over to visit my dad and Lorraine, when I was a little girl, and a “not so little” girl, and playing with all the little boxes and collectibles she had. Lorraine loved "little things" (boxes, mirrors, dolls, shells, rocks, little spoons, just anything little). Her tables, shelves, dressers and drawers were always like little treasures chests to me. I imagine I will live my life, reminded often of Lorraine, when I see little boxes, dolls, and trinkets. Thinking more about Lorraine, I next think of her love of sewing, drawing, and painting. She was so talented! How blessed we are, to have so many of her beautiful pieces of art and lovely quilts, tangible pieces of her beautiful soul. I then of course, think about her love of animals, especially dogs. If you wanted to see Lorraine's eyes light up, just bring a dog around. In many of my childhood memories, if Lorraine was there, her dog Goldie was right there, next to her. She was a great dog mom. Many more things come to mind, when I think of Lorraine. However, not wanting to take up too much more of everyone's time, I will share one final thing that comes to mind when I think of Lorraine, her love for her granddaughters. I mentioned her eyes lighting up whenever she saw a dog. Well nothing made her eyes light up more than Alina and Rebecca. She once said to me that she didn't necessarily know if she considered herself a mother, but there was no doubt in her mind that she was a grandmother. And what a wonderful grandmother she was! (By the way she WAS also a wonderful mother to me and Julie💕). I don't think anyone could have asked for a better Oma than Lorraine. I am so happy that she was such an important part of my daughters' lives. I am so glad she was a part of my life. I'm still trying to figure out how to live without her in my life. I don't know how to completely say goodbye. All I can say is DANKA, my beautiful stepmother. Danka for always being in my corner. Danka for showing me how to be a strong independent woman. Danka for all the fun and laughter!

This is something that occurred in the fall of 2017; Lorraine was 83. We were living in a skilled nursing rehab facility while she recovered from a broken leg. We had already been there for about 2 months. During our time there, Lorraine’s dementia diagnosis had improved from severe to moderate, probably as a result of the daily sessions with a great speech therapist, named Ellen. Lorraine did not like the therapy sessions, nor was she fond of Ellen. Nevertheless, I am still thankful for Ellen and her very successful efforts working with Lorraine.
From the time we arrived at the facility, on a regular basis, nurses, doctors, and therapists would ask Lorraine various questions to asses her state of mind. For example: “What’s your name?”; “Do you know where you are?”; “What’s your birthday?” When we first arrived, she would respond hesitantly, as if she weren’t sure how to respond. But within a week she had learned how to respond correctly. When asked about her birthday she would reply from rote: 3-1-34; correct!
Let’s return to the fall of 2017. It was early afternoon in mid-week; Lorraine and I were in her room. She was sitting up in her bed, and I was seated in a chair next to the bed. We were watching some boring show on TV. Lorraine said she had to use the toilet, so I started to get up and get the wheelchair. I had only taken a step or 2 when I saw Lorraine fall off the bed onto the floor. She cried out initially, but she became quiet when she hit the floor. There was a rubber mat on the floor, and it probably absorbed most of the impact of her fall. She looked disoriented, but otherwise she appeared to be ok. I told her not to move, then I ran out of the room, and into the hall, yelling for help.
Within a few seconds several CNAs, a couple therapists, and other personnel were crowded around Lorraine as she lay on the floor next to the bed, her eyes closed. More people entered the room, and soon a nurse stepped forward and started to check Lorraine’s vitals. As the blood pressure cuff began to tighten, Lorraine opened her eyes and complained: “Stop that! It’s too tight!” By then, the room was full of people, and seeing that she was conscious, a palpable sigh of relief was shared by all of us. Just then, a doctor entered the room. The “Red Sea of humans” parted as the doctor walked through them and took charge of the situation.
Again, the tension rose as the doctor bent down to check on Lorraine. He started asking her questions. She knew her name; good! She thought she was in a hospital; ok. When asked who the President was, she shook her head and frowned distastefully, not answering. She didn’t know what year it was: 1995?.. not so good; the tension rose a bit. Then he asked about her birthday. Instead of her usual reply of “3-1-34”, she said 

March 1st. “Ok, but which year?” She hesitated and stared at him... more tension in the room. The doctor spoke again “Your birthday is March 1st, but which year? We all waited expectantly. Finally, she looked at him as if he were an idiot, and she said with exasperation “Every year!”
The room broke out in complete laughter, as the tension dissolved… even the doctor laughed! After a few more vital checks, it was determined that Lorraine was fine, and the “spectators” all left the room. I turned off the boring TV program, and we went for a wheelchair ride to the ice cream shop. I had strawberry and Lorraine had vanilla. 

My friendship with Lorraine began on January 30, 2008, when I arrived at the duplex apartment that she and Tom rented to me “for a month.” I was checking out Chattanooga to learn if it was a place where I wanted to live. The duplex was unfurnished and I brought an air mattress, two folding lawn chairs, a large cooler, and a crockpot with me. Immediately, Lorraine began providing little extras: a few dishes, a lamp, a couple of cooking pots and utensils. She invited me to an art gallery opening that she and Tom wanted to attend. She invited me to dinner several times. And after that month had passed and I decided to stay in Chattanooga, Lorraine and I scoured local thrift stores to find furnishings for the apartment. We enjoyed each other’s company from that point forward. I was the one Lorraine called when she broke yet another bone and needed help to get to the emergency room or a doctor’s appointment (Tom was out of town working). As an avid walker, I often passed through her neighborhood and would find her sitting on the porch. We would have a good visit sitting there chatting and, of course, a glass or two of red wine as well.
Lorraine was quite independent and enjoyed her time alone. I remember when she declared she would no longer follow a vegetarian diet and wanted to add meat to her meals. Tom was stunned as it had been his desire to be vegetarian and they had eaten that way for decades. Didn’t matter – Lorraine was done with it. Eventually, Tom learned to eat and cook with meat, fowl, and fish.
I have many other memories of Lorraine, good times. I felt a real sisterhood with Lorraine and will dearly miss our times together. 

 Anneli and I feel Lorraine was a kind soul, and the times we shared with her will always be special memories of our time in Atlanta. We feel she was very giving, intelligent and articulate. I really enjoyed talking with her. We think of her when we put the ornaments she made for the girls on the Christmas Tree, and we are sure to mention the fact that Lorraine made them for the girls. Lorraine was so kind to our girls, and she influenced us to enroll them in the Montessori School here. She was a positive person in our lives, and we are better for knowing her.