Lorraine's Obituary

My mom, a native of Maui, Hawaii enjoying her "Celebration of Life Luau" Feb. 2008.

Isn't she lovely? This is my mom in college doing a hula demonstration for the local paper. :-)

The obituary will run in the "Red Bluff Daily News" today and Thurs. Since my link feature is not working, I will copy and paste it here.

Lorraine Marie DeCambra Johnson, 67 of Red Bluff, CA passed from this life on December 26, 2008 following a year-long battle with brain cancer. She passed away in the comfort of her home in Red Bluff, California.

Lorraine was a devoted and respected wife, mother, grandmother, friend and teacher. She was born in Puunene, Maui, Hawaii on January 15, 1941. She attended elementary and high school on Maui before moving to Iowa and Missouri to attend Ottumwa Heights College and Webster University. She earned her teaching credential and taught in St. Louis, Missouri before moving to Whittier, California where she taught for ten years at Sorensen and North Whittier Schools.

Lorraine married a fellow teacher, Harry Johnson, in 1965. They were married for 41 years until Harry’s passing in 2006, a commitment that their daughter Denise is very proud of and thankful for. In 1975 Lorraine and her family moved to Red Bluff, where she resided for 33 years.

She taught at Antelope School for 28 years before retiring in 2003. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma (society of women educators), Sacred Heart Parish Church, and Women’s Guild. She was active in AAUW, Crafty Ladies, Kelly Griggs Museum and Red Hat Society. She enjoyed scrapbooking, card making, reading and Bunco.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Johnson and her parents Raymond and Mary DeCambra. She is survived by daughter Denise (Tom) Kofford and grandchildren Kyle and Ashlyn Kofford, all of Longmont, Colorado; brother Edward (Maria) DeCambra of Garden Grove, CA; sisters-in-law Beth Johnson of Azusa, CA; Sylvia (Jerry) Barrett of Glendora,CA; nephews Michael (Paula) Barrett , great neice and great nephew Abigail and Andrew Barrett of Upland, CA; David (Fernie) Barrett, and great niece and nephew Emily and Christopher Barrett of Hudson, MA. She was loved and cared for by dearest friends Annette and Fred Null, and her caregivers Gayle Oelrichs, Sande Keller and Sharon Gilmore. She is also survived by countless dear friends and former students throughout the community who embraced her as part of their families or circle of friends.

Lorraine will always be remembered for her gregarious personality and her great love for life, family, friends, students and community. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Visitation will be held at Hoyt Cole Chapel of the Flowers on Sunday, January 11th, 2009 from 2-5PM, with a rosary at 4PM. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, January 12th, 2009 at 10AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to, “The Apple Tree Scholarship Fund in memory of Harry and Lorraine Johsnon” at Wells Fargo Bank or P.O. Box 627, Red Bluff, CA. The fund will benefit future teachers pursuing a degree in education, as well as existing teachers in Tehama County; a cause Harry and Lorraine were both passionate about

Thank you again readers for your prayers and kind words of sympathy. I so appreciate your support during this difficult time. Remember to live life fully and savor every day, especially today!