Lorraine Cummings

Lorraine Cummings, 89, of Spokane, WA passed away in her sleep on Thursday, February 18, 2016, in her son's house.

Born June 5, 1926, in Berlin, NH, she was the daughter of Adolph and Cordelia LaCroix.  She was the last of five children.

She graduated high school from St. Regis Academy in Berlin, New Hampshire.  She graduated Hesser Business College in Machester, New Hampshire in 1945.

Later in 1946, Lorraine moved to Maryland outside Washington, D.C. to live with her older sister, Olive Schuler. She found employment at the U.S. Justice Department working in the FBI building. It was during this time that she met her first husband and love of her life, James R. Cummings. They were married January 22, 1949 at St. Matthew's Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

Lorraine and Jim moved to his hometown of Burlington to continue their life together and raise their family. Jim's ten brothers and sisters welcomed Lorraine into their extended family. They would have six children together over then next ten years. She took pride in her family and home during this time and this could continued for the rest of her life. They were married for 16 years before Jim's sudden and tragic death of a heart attach in 1965. Lorraine continued to raise her six children and found work at the local bank to support them.

In 1970, she moved her family to the Washington D.C. area where to of her sisters lived. She was hired by Computer Science Corporation, working in a clerical position, and obtained a top secret security clearance to work on government projects. She later worked for RCA where she met Mike Feistman. They were married December 9, 1974. She and Mike were very happy for two short years until his untimely death of a heart attack on August 14, 1976. After Mike's death, Lorraine returned to work full time for the National Association of Grain Growers. She traveled for this job, planning and running their conferences.

In 1983, she moved to Spokane, WA to be near her oldest son and family, Robert Cummings. There she worked as an Administrative Assistant at EWU's Business School. During the next two decades, she traveled east often to visit her children and grandchildren. She met Pat Coupens in 1993 and on March 19, 1994 they were married. Lorraine retired from her job shortly after their marriage. She and Pat enjoyed traveling and visiting with their families in their retirement.

Lorraine and Pat moved into a cottage at Riverview Retirement's Village in October 2010. Later that year, at the age of 92 Pat died after battling with cancer for 2 years. They had been married for 16 years. Lorraine then moved in with her youngest son, Dan, in his cottage in Riverview's Village where she lived until her death.

Lorraine was always proud of her family and their accomplishments. She also enjoyed cooking, dancing , listening to music, her flower garden and arranging and decorating her house.

She will be missed by her surviving six children: three sons, Robert Cummings of Spokane, WA, William Cummings of Charlottesville, VA, and Dan Cummings of Spokane, WA; three daughters, Linda Donelan of Alexandria, VA, Barbara Kimbell of Pittsburg, PA, and Mary Cronk of Lafayette, CO; 16 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; also by Pat's surviving children, Shannon, Colin and Kathy; eight grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Cremation has been accorded.

We will celebrate her life at a memorial service at 10:00 AM Saturday, June 25, 2016, at Prugh~Thielen Funeral Home & Crematory with Rev. Father Marty Goetz officiating.  Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery.

Lorraine Cummings Tribute Video from Prugh~Thielen Funeral Home on Vimeo.