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Lorraine H. Gerecke
Lorraine Helen Gerecke of Sag Harbor died at Southampton Hospital on April 4 after a long illness. She was 87.
Born in Southampton on February, 16, 1925, she was the first child of George Edwards and Helen (Nellie) McDonough Edwards. She graduated from Pierson High School as salutatorian in 1942 and then attended Southampton Hospital School of Nursing, graduating in 1945 as registered nurse. She then worked as an operating room nurse until 1948 at Southampton Hospital. While there she was awarded the Parrish Memorial Award for Bedside Nursing on three consecutive years. She married Thomas Frank Gerecke, who predeceased her, also of Sag Harbor, on August 22, 1948.
Mr. Gerecke’s U.S. Navy career took them throughout the country over the next 17 years, including South Carolina, California, Virginia, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. After her husband’s retirement from the Navy, they spent 18 years in Hauppauge, finally returning to Sag Harbor for good in 1984. At home in Sag Harbor, Mrs. Gerecke was active in the Columbiettes, the American Legion Auxiliary, and Home Extension. She loved cooking, sewing, gardening and enjoyed many hours playing the organ.
She is survived by her three sons, Thomas F. Gerecke Jr., and his wife Kathleen of Massachusetts, Mark R. Gerecke, and his wife Alexis of Florida, and Paul E. Gerecke of Sag Harbor. Lorraine is also survived by a cousin, Dolores Zebrowski, a sister-in-law, Kathryn Evans Gerecke, both of Sag Harbor, and a brother-in-law, George Gerecke and his wife Patricia of Vermont.
She was predeceased by her brother, George R. Edwards of Amagansett in 1978.
A funeral Mass was held on Tuesday, April 10, at St. Andrew’s R.C. Church in Sag Harbor, following by burial in the church cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Cormaria, P.O. Box 1993, Sag Harbor, NY 11963, or to a charity of one’s choice.
on Apr 10, 2012