Lorraine Mary Pagano

Mrs. Lorraine Mary Pagano Jan. 2022
Obituary

Lorraine Mary (Piaskowski) Pagano, of Woodstock Georgia, beloved by her family and friends, passed away on January 6, 2022, at the age of 94.

She was born to her parents, Victor Piaskowski and Vivian (LeClair) Piaskowski on October 2, 1927 in [Detroit, Michigan.] She received her high school degree in Detroit, Michigan and also attended St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she studied a variety of subjects including art and home economics, and was part of the “Water Dolphins” aquatic ballet team in college.

She married Leonard August Pagano (deceased), the love of her life, in September, 1951, and they had a very loving and happy marriage for 70 years.

Mrs. Pagano is survived by other members of her family, including:
her son, Leonard A. Pagano, Jr., his wife, Mary Lou Pagano, and their children, Lauren A. Pagano, Leonard A. Pagano, III, Audra Pagano, and Charles Pagano;
her daughter, Catherine V. Pagano, her husband, K. Jack Haugrud and their son, Samuel J. Haugrud;
her daughter Anna Marie Pagano and her husband, Richard Burfoot;
and her son, Gerard V. Pagano, his wife, Elizabeth Fryer and their daughter Emily Pagano.

Lorraine also is survived by her sister, Janie Fettweis, and her family, including her children and grandchildren. She also is survived by her sister Rozelma Piaskowski. In addition, she is survived by her sister Claire Piorek’s children and grandchildren, and by her brother Richard E. Reid’s children and grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband, Leonard August Pagano, and by her parents, by her sisters, Leone Piaskowski and Claire Piorek, and by her brother Richard E. Reid.

Lorraine was always a devout Catholic, and she and Len attended Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church in Jasper, Georgia, for many years. While the family lived in Athens, Georgia, they attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Church for many years.

Lorraine’s father was the first in his family to be born in the United States, since his parents immigrated from Poland, and her mother’s family hailed from Cheboygan, Michigan. Lorraine and her siblings grew up in Detroit in a loving family and close-knit community, attended Catholic Schools there and enjoyed beautiful summers in a family cabin on Michigan’s Lime Lake. Lorraine, always known for her beauty, artistry and grace, was a model for a time before joining Capital Airlines as a flight attendant, where her job took her all over Northwestern United States, and even to Alaska and to Canada. To their great joy, on one lucky flight, Lorraine met Len, then a pilot for Capital Airlines. She noticed the rosary in his jacket pocket, and instantly knew they shared a love of religion as well as a love of flight. Lorraine and Len married on September 1, 1951, and lived for a time in the Chicago area, where their four children were born. In 1959, the family moved to Athens, Georgia and Lorraine and Len have lived in Georgia ever since, including many years in a lovely home in Jasper, Georgia.

During her wonderful career, Lorraine was both a highly skilled artist as well as a devoted homemaker, whose great pride and joy was raising her four children together with Len and enjoying so many happy years together! Lorraine was a consummate artist, designing dresses and everything from clothing to home decorations and everything in-between. She was so skillful that no dress designer or Vogue pattern could outdo her lovely work. She also had a beautiful voice, which filled their home with joyful melodies! Lorraine’s personal qualities included not only a characteristic optimism, but also a great enthusiasm, a great sense of humor and love of music. She was generous to a fault. She also loved walking outdoors, swimming, and gardening, and their beautiful yard demonstrated her landscaping skills. She blessed her family and friends with these wonderful qualities, and in the summer holidays, she also taught her children music appreciation, which became a lasting legacy.

Lorraine was always deeply religious and spiritual, and this was accompanied by an unbeatably positive attitude which gave her great strength for life’s joys and also for any of life’s challenges.
Her family expresses their deep love for Lorraine and knows that her life will be an inspiration for sharing artistry, kindness, faith, and love to all. We are comforted to know that Lorraine and Len are happily together again in heaven!

Due to the COVID pandemic, the funeral will be private, for family and a very few close friends, but we will plan a larger celebration for all of Lorraine’s and Len’s family and friends when it is safe to do so. If the services can be live streamed, the information will be posted by Poole Funeral Home. After the services, a link to the video, if available, also will be posted by Poole Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Catholic Charities, and the Atlanta address is 2401 Lake Park Dr, Smyrna, GA 30080.

Sympathy cards for the family may be addressed to The Pagano Family c/o Poole Funeral Home: 1970 Eagle Dr, Woodstock, GA 30189. The family thanks everyone for their kind sympathies, thoughts and prayers.