Lorraine Ellen French, 99, passed away in Porter, Texas on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, after a brief illness.

Lorraine was born in Danbury, Connecticut on May 22, 1923, the fifth of six daughters born to parents Elizabeth and Joseph Denny. After graduating high school in 1940, she began her work career as a secretary at the Lee Hat Company in Danbury. To support the war effort, she later went to work for General Electric where she held positions as a drill press operator, lathe operator, and quality control inspector. In early 1944, she and her sister Doris joined the U. S. Navy nursing corps and were stationed at the naval hospital in San Diego. It was here that she met her future husband, Norman French, when he was a patient at the hospital. They were married in San Diego on November 28, 1944, and moved to Danbury after being honorably discharged from the Navy in late-1945. Following the birth of their only child in 1947, Lorraine and Norman moved to Louisville, Kentucky to be closer to his family. She lived in Louisville for over 70 years until moving to Texas in June 2021 so she could spend more time with her son and his family.

During her early years in Louisville, Lorraine was employed as a machine operator at Phillip Morris. She quit work to be a full-time homemaker in 1959 but remained active in many volunteer activities throughout her life. Examples include chaperoning at school events, teaching at St. Matthias elementary school, setting up the first nursery program at St. Lawrence church, working at church socials, and serving as an election poll worker for over 20 years. Lorraine enjoyed bowling and participated in several leagues over the years until arthritis took its toll. She loved bingo, cards, and trips to the casino. Walking was her favorite form of exercise. She logged countless miles throughout the neighborhood, sometimes taking multiple walks per day. When the weather was too severe, she pedaled her exercise bike in the basement of her home for hours at a time. She was an avid reader of fiction and biographies throughout her life. The gift of a good book always brought a smile to her face, and she always enjoyed a trip to the public library to pick out some new large-print books.

Lorraine was a devout Roman Catholic and was an active member of St. Lawrence Parish in Shively, Kentucky for 54 years. When Covid and mobility issues precluded attendance at church in recent years, Lorraine always participated in the televised Mass of the Air. Although Lorraine was small in stature, she was not easily intimidated. She was a tough, strong, and resilient individual who retained her mental sharpness until the very end. She was a generous, kind, and caring person who was embraced by all she met, even during her recent hospital stay.

Lorraine is preceded in death by her parents; sisters Alice Magoon, Doris Kalkofen, Eva Keith, Geraldine Rank, and Gloria Phelps; and her husband, Norman L. French. She is survived by her son, Robert L. French and wife Debbie; granddaughter Kelly Davis and husband Chris; grandson Brian French and wife Tammy; and great-grandchildren Brynn Davis, Viktoria French, and Hailey Brown. Burial will be at Resthaven Memorial Park in Louisville, Kentucky.