Lorraine F. Henry
- The world became a better place on August 11, 1924 when Lorraine C. Fischer was born to Mae (Betsch) and Clarence E Fischer in Newark, NJ. As the roar of the Twenties turned into the whimper of the Thirties this young lady defied the conventions of society leading her cohorts over the fences and through the back alleys of Newark and Irvington making friends with all living creatures and some of their owners.
As she learned at home that you took care of family as a duty, she did well at school, in the boring, to her, classes leading to a secretarial job. She completed high school as World War II suddenly produced all kinds of jobs and a shortage of consumer goods on which to spend your income. Asserting her independence, she moved from her parents’ home to her own place. She continued to work full time for the Prudential and part time for Bamberger’s, while saving for her own home, which she purchased in Cranford in the early fifties. During this period she accepted an offer for a more attractive position with Chubb while still working part time with the real estate and insurance experts in the organization through which she purchased her home.
When Chubb changed its marketing strategy she returned to Prudential and along with her newly acquired dog, Impy, and some fortunate misunderstandings she began her college career as an evening student at Seton Hall Urban Division in Newark. Starting out as a business major she soon shifted her focus to education and prepared to become a teacher, a goal that seemed beyond reach of the tomboy from Newark. After ten years of concentrated effort and with the mutual aid and encouragement of family, friends and fellow students she graduated cum laude and left Prudential again to teach in the Plainfield school district. Two years later she moved to the Bridgewater Raritan System in which she spent fifteen happy years
TOMS RIVER
before becoming a victim of the thorough and efficient education theory which forever changed public education in New Jersey. While she was going to school part-time she and Bob Henry who was an agent in the Prudential office where she worked fell in love and they were married in 1969.
As the frustrations of the educational systems changes mounted, Lorraine and Bob had moved to Gladstone, NJ and had changed their home on the hill to a place of fun, hard work, rest, entertainment and happiness. Once again Lorraine returned to Prudential’s home office in Newark where she worked with some of the people she had met in 1942 and with whom she worked until she became an agent with Bob as they both prepared for retirement in the family home at the shore. This preparation included several cruises in the Western Hampshire, including the Caribbean, parts of Central and South America, Mexico, the Panama Canal, Alaska and the Canadian Yukon.
When Sandy hit they survived with no major damage and based on the obsolete data and 2012 climate predictions they decided to stay put and work on happy instead of long, as age and health became important factors in their lives. Theater took the place of travel (for several years, they subscribed to seven different NJ Theaters) but as the years went by doctor’s appointments began to conflict with performance dates and in September 2023 Bob finally admitted what everyone else had tried to help him understand, Lorraine entered Complete Care at Shorrock Gardens for evaluation and ultimate admission as a resident. While cooperating with the staff, Lorraine fought against her disease with all her strength, and when the time came the hospice workers were able to meet her needs with her help. She passed from this life on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 and as we celebrate her joy at going to heaven we are sad she is no longer with us.
Visiting will be Thursday, March 14, 2024 from 4:00pm until 7:00pm at the Silverton Memorial Funeral Home 2482 Church Road, Toms River. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday, March 15, 2024 at 11:00am at St. Justin Roman Catholic Church 975 Fischer Blvd., Toms River, NJ. Burial will be private. www.silverton memorial.com.