PITMAN, N.J. — Lorraine Ferland Marquez of Pitman, N.J., passed away on Jan. 20, 2020, at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, where she was cared for in her final years. She was 93.
She was predeceased by her husband, Gilbert C. Marquez, and infant son Paul. She is survived by daughters Susanna Marquez (Richard Kirk) of Newark, Del.; Lorri Marquez Chapman (John) of West Hartford, Conn.; Rita Marquez Williams (Richard) of Pitman; son, Gilbert J. Marquez (Jeanette) of Pitman; 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by the loving hands that provided tender care during her decline — her companion and caregiver, Alicia Parker and aides Carol Davidson and Tanya Jenkins-Ellis.
Lorraine grew up in Middlebury, Vt., and earned her RN at Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, in Hanover, N.H. She met her beloved Gilbert in Denver, Colo., and they married in Rome, Italy, at the Church of Santa Susanna.
After residing in Boulder, Colo., Rancho Cordova, Calif., and Wayne, Pa., Lorraine and her family settled in Pitman in 1970, where she returned to nursing and eventually became the Director of Nursing at Pitman Manor. She was an active member in Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, where she sang in the choir, was active in the Golden Age Club, and with her husband, cared for the church gardens.
Throughout her life, Lorraine’s hands were always creating. Her favorite pastimes were sewing, knitting, crewel and needlepoint, baking bread and making her family-famous granola. She loved gardening, and her home was always filled with beautifully tended houseplants. In retirement, Lorraine and her husband used their hands and hearts to serve others.
Friends may greet the family on Monday, Jan. 27, from 7-9 p.m., and Tuesday, Jan. 28, from 9-10 a.m., at the Kelley Funeral Home, 125 Pitman Ave, Pitman, NJ 08071. Tuesday’s visiting hour will be followed by a funeral mass at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Pitman. Interment will take place at a later date at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Wheat Ridge, Colo.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the Presidential Scholarship Fund c/o Bayada Home Health, 1415 Route 70E, Suite 503B, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034. This fund benefits local home health aides who are pursuing LPN and RN degrees. Memories may be shared at kelleyfhpitman.com.◊