Obituaries

Obituary: Lorraine M. (Yankaitis) Curnan, 91, of Ridgefield

Lorraine Curnan of Ridgefield passed away peacefully on Thursday May 22, 2014,  surrounded by her family on Cape Cod, where she had lived for the past four years.

Lorraine was born to Justina & Joseph Yankaitis on October 31, 1922, in Rockford Ill. She graduated as a Registered Nurse from St. Anthony’s School of Nursing in 1946 & became a traveling nurse for the American Red Cross.

Lorraine spent several years caring for children with polio. While traveling, she met her late husband Martin W. Curnan on the beach in Miami. They married in 1955 and settled in Ridgefield in 1963. 

Lorraine had a passion for gardening and loved nothing more than getting her hands dirty in the good earth. She could tell you how to plant and tend any variety of flower or vegetable. She watched over her friends and family’s flowers by checking their house plants and exclaiming “dry as a bone” and proceed to water the plants.

Lorraine’s other passions included crafts of all types and a good yard sale, an inspiration to all of her artistic children and grandchildren which she was extremely proud of and brought her much happiness over the years. 

Throughout her life she maintained a sweet and simple demeanor that won the trust and hearts of many who witnessed her constant nurturing love and faith. Her signature gift of joy, shown through her beautiful smile and quick wit, will never be forgotten. 

Lorraine was preceded in death by her husband Martin W. Curnan, her sisters Anita Malecki and Adel Branca, and her parents, Justina & Joseph Yankaitis. 

Lorraine is survived by: her three children Martin and his wife Michele (Levesque) of Coplin Plantation, Maine; Christopher Curnan of Ridgefield; Patricia Curnan and her partner Heather Robinson of Brewster, Mass.; her brother Thomas Yankaitis of Rockford, Ill.; her grandchildren, Marty of Orono, Maine; Emma of Wallingford; William and wife Callie of Roxbury; Matthew, Katie and Bridgitte Curnan of Ridgefield; and many nieces and nephews. 

A special thank you to Linda Delory and Mimi Cunningham for the care and love they gave Lorraine over the last four years of her life. 

The family will receive friends in the Kane Funeral Home, 25 Catoonah St., Ridgefield, on Thursday, May 29, from 6 p.m to 8 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday May 30, at 10:15 a.m. in St Mary Church, Ridgefield, CT. Burial will follow in St. Mary Cemetery. 

Obituary via Jowdy Kane and Kane Funeral Home


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