Ruth Lorraine Lawrence, 89

January 28, 2014

Ruth Lorraine Lawrence, 89, of Lititz, PA, passed away on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at Conestoga View Nursing Home, Lancaster. Born in Los Angeles, CA, she was the daughter of the late Stephen Steele Terror and Mary Viola (Bergmann) Terror. Ruth was the wife of the late T. Wayne Lawrence who died in 2010.

Lorraine was the “go to” person in her family for not only the immediate family but the entire extended family. It is not a joke when they say that she was really loved by all her family as well as her friends over the years. Wayne was a difficult man to live with and she made life easy for all who had to deal with him – very unselfishly on her part.

Lorraine was an incredible mother who would do anything for her children that she could. She was a tireless helper to her children when they had children of their own – she babysat and loved her grandchildren with all her heart along with always taking care of Kathleen who has special needs.

Surviving are her children: Kathleen L. Lawrence of Lititz, Walter E. Lawrence, husband of Karin, of Spanaway, WA and Judy Marsh, wife of Richard D. Marsh of Lititz; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Terry Lawrence, who passed away in September 2013.

Lorraine was a graduate of Ramona Convent of Alhambra, California. She spoke often of her education there and how she loved the nuns that were her teachers. She was a proud graduate and benefited from many long term friendships from that time in her life, she was forever grateful to her parents for allowing her that experience.

She did work outside the home running a 7-11 store that she owned many years ago. Lorraine’s employees loved her like a mother and she often became a surrogate mother to MANY.

Lorraine did not bother with make-up, fancy hair do’s or name brand anything. She was unselfish for herself but spent greatly on others as much as she could. You could call her ANYTIME day or night and she would jump in her car and be there for whatever anyone needed. Her life was mostly that of the caretaker of the family and the best ear you could ever have asked for.

Lorraine’s hobbies were only those that she did with others to just “be” with her loved ones – you could even say her hobby was to help everyone – all the time. She did love to play the slot machines whenever the opportunity arose however, she dreamed of hitting “the big one” and paying for everyone’s debts.

Lorraine was a loving mother, devoted wife, and a hardworking Catholic woman. She was just an ordinary woman – with the ability to make any ordinary person feel loved and quite special.

Services will be private and at the family’s convenience. Contributions may be made in Ruth Lorraine Lawrence’s memory to Conestoga View Nursing Home, 900 E. King Street, Lancaster, PA 17602.