New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Famed ghost hunter to be buried in alleged haunted Trumbull cemetery
TRUMBULL — The Rev. Christopher Samele is hoping the funeral for famed paranormal researcher Lorraine Warren will be a “low-key event.”
Samele is pastor of St. Stephen’s Church in Trumbull, where funeral services for Warren, who lived in Monroe, will be held Wednesday. And frankly, he’s not sure what to expect.
“I have no clue,” he said. “I never know how many people will come. It could be 10 or it could be 300.”
Warren — who along with her late husband, Ed, formed one of the country’s best-known team of supernatural experts — died Thursday at age 92. The two founded the New England Society for Psychic Research in 1952.
They were the inspiration for a series of horror movies, including “The Conjuring,” “The Conjuring 2,” and “Annabelle.”
The Warrens often were asked to assist in numerous
police investigations involving satanic ritualistic murders and they co-authored 10 books on the subject of the supernatural.
Lorraine Warren, who was born in Bridgeport, will fittingly enough be interred at Stepney Village Cemetery in Monroe — the alleged site of many hauntings.
The cemetery is “home to various spirit incarnations and ectoplasmic blobs,” according to a 2008 article on the web site Damned Connecticut. In addition, it allegedly serves as a “‘second home’ of sorts for the White Lady of Union Cemetery.”
Stepney also is where Ed Warren was buried following his death in 2006.
Lorraine Warren’s work earned her fans nationwide. There were dozens of concondolence dolences — many of them from fans — posted on the tribute page for Warren at Abriola Parkview Funeral Home in Trumbull, where her viewing will take place.
“Other than my late Mother I had three Women that inspired me in my lifetime — Lorraine Warren,
Pat Summitt and Patty Duke,” said one poster from Tennessee. “Thank you Lorraine for being the Christian warrior who ran into the horrors that others ran from.”
Given Warren’s popularity, Samele and James Abriola, general manager at Abriola Parkview, said they will prepare for the possibility of a big crowd.
“It’s difficult for us to anticipate how many people will come, but we will be prepared,” Abriola said.
He said he hadn’t had an unusual amount of inquiries about the viewing, but did mention the high volume of notes on the web site.
Abriola said there will be extra staff on hand in case of an influx of supernatural enthusiasts arriving to pay respects.
Samele, meanwhile, said he was meeting with Warren’s family Monday to discuss funeral preparations. He said she had been a member of the church for some time, but began receiving services at home a few years ago as her health began to fail.
“She was a pleasant, gentle lady,” Samele said.