Born in Southington CT into a large extended Italian family, Lorraine grew up in a home on her family’s large Queen Street vegetable farm with her parents and sister Genevieve, next door to her paternal grandparents, aunts and uncles.
Entering school in first grade at the age of 4, she graduated High School at the age of 17, attended Hillyer College (now University of Hartford) for one year and then attended New Britain General Hospital School of Nursing, where she received her RN degree. Many of her fellow nursing students became life-long friends, and through one of them she was introduced to her future husband, Norman, on a blind date.
They married and started their life together in Kensington, CT. where together they raised their family of two boys and a girl along with a succession of numerous cats and dogs (5) that freely roamed around the small town. Lorraine stayed home to raise their three children before eventually returning to work where she was the Director of Nursing at a skilled nursing facility in New Britain. She retired after 25 years.
She will be remembered for her love and devotion to her family, and for always being available for her children and grandchildren, above all else. Her dedication to the game show Jeopardy, her outstanding lasagna, and her fondness for ice cream, while all noteworthy, came in second. In her later years she was envied for her youthful skin that she attributed to good genes.
Lorraine was predeceased by her loving husband of 64 years, Norman Stachelek, and her parents Lena (Savio) and James Pompey.
She is survived by her three children and their families, Conrad Stachelek, MD, PhD, (Beth Pintea) of Erie, Pennsylvania, and his two sons Greg Stachelek, MD, PhD, (Dr. Jessica Berger) of Philadelphia, PA, Alex Stachelek, (Lindsey) of Dallas, Texas; Norman Stachelek, (Carol) of Stonington, CT and their son Erik Stachelek of Essex Junction, Vermont and daughter Preston Stachelek of Providence, Rhode Island; Roxanne Stachelek, (Thomas Chrosniak) and their daughters Alycia Chrosniak and Christina Chrosniak, all of West Hartford.
She also leaves behind her much loved sister Genevieve with whom she shares many loving memories of their 93 years together, four great grandchildren: Isla and Mari Stachelek (Alex), and Julian and Carey Stachelek (Greg), and four nieces and nephews: Caryl Ryan (Berry), to whom we are forever grateful for her help with our mother at the UConn Health Center over the last few weeks of her life, Joseph Tedesco of Simsbury, Denna Grasso (Tom) of North Carolina, and Scott Stachelek (Joanna) of Virginia. We would also like to acknowledge her Doctors and Nurses who oversaw her care in her last week of life, and Seasons Hospice.
A memorial Mass will be held on Monday, January 17th at 10 a.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 485 Alling St., Kensington. Burial will be private. Masks are mandatory along with social distancing. In lieu of flowers donations, may be made to; UCONN Oncology Center. The DellaVecchia Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. For online condolences and directions please visit, www.dellavecchiasouthington.com
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