Lorraine K. Russell

Longtime Grasmere resident Lorraine K. Russell, a homemaker and former school aide who was dedicated to her family and friends, died peacefully Thursday, January 2nd in Eger Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, Egbertville. She was 93 years old.

Born Lorraine Hangen in College Point, Queens, in 1926, she attended Flushing High School. She had a love for the water and was an excellent swimmer and sailor, winning awards in both. After graduation from high school, Lorraine worked as an office assistant, first for Pan American Airlines and then American Airlines. It was there where she met her future husband, Joseph Russell. They were married in 1949 and lived in Bayside, Queens. In 1958 they moved to Staten Island where they raised three children, Laura, Joseph and David. Her husband and son David predeceased her.

For over 20 years, Lorraine worked for the NYC Board of Education as a school aide at IS 49.

She loved gardening, knitting, crossword puzzles, researching her family history, and traveling. She and her husband traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe. They were frequent passengers on the Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Mary II.

She was a charter member of the South Shore Swim Club and participated in the club’s activities for over 50 years.

Lorraine had many stories of boating on Flushing Bay, such as the time she and a friend spotted the singer Kate Smith’s yacht docked close to the 1939 Worlds Fairgrounds. Trying to get the singer’s attention, and perhaps an autograph, thirteen-year-old Lorraine received instead an angry reprimand for disturbing the star.

For her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, she was an excellent role model. She enjoyed life and her energy and good humor were infectious. “My mother always had a positive attitude. Her outlook on life was the glass was always half full, never half empty,” said her daughter, Laura.

Surviving along with her daughter and son-in-law, Henry Kennedy, are her son Joseph and daughter-in-law, Kathleen Russell (nee Callaghan), seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and a sister-in-law, Patricia Casazza of Redmond, Washington.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 5th at Harmon Funeral Home, 571 Forest Avenue from 2-4pm and from 7-9pm. Funeral service will be held on Monday, January 6th at Christ Church, 76 Franklin Avenue, 10am.