Lorraine A Demara

Lorraine Amelda Demara passed away peacefully at her home in Laurel Hill, Florida on May 1, 2020.  She was 87 years of age.

Lorraine Amelda Connolly was born July 7, 1932 in the Bronx, New York City, New York to parents Thomas Keirn and Margaret Veronica Connolly.

Lorraine’s formative years were greatly influenced by her large extended family and growing up in New York City in the 1930’s and 1940’s.  Being born into a large Irish American family, the seventh of nine children, Lorraine learned how to be an individual person within the context of a large family. A person with an inquisitive mind, she told stories of exploring New York City and discovering and experiencing all its wonders especially the New York public libraries.  It was at this time, Lorraine became an avid reader and remained so up to the time of her death.  She will be fondly remembered for the reading of countless bedtime stories to her children and grandchildren.

Lorraine met her future husband, Sargent First Class Raymond Demara who was on temporary assignment in North Carolina, at an Arthur Murray dance studio where she was a dance instructor.  According to them both, it was love at first sight.  SFC Demara returned to Camp Rucker, Alabama where Lorraine followed six weeks later where they were married.

Over the next twenty plus years, Lorraine simultaneously raised a large family of her own while adapting to the life of a military wife.  Moving every couple of years to a new assignment, she became adept at breaking down one home and setting up another half the country away with only a few complaints that we can remember.  Lorraine particularly enjoyed the Hawaii assignment where the family lived for over three years.

In 1973, Raymond and Lorraine moved to the panhandle of Florida briefly living in Ft. Walton Beach before moving to Laurel Hill in 1974 to finally set down roots and continue to raise their family.

Married for 66 years at the time of her husband’s death in 2018, she and Raymond raised seven children: Raymond, Louise, David, Steven, Darlene, Dean and Michael.  Her family included sons-in-law Scott and Donnie; daughters-in-law Marie, Laura, Rosemary, and Jennifer as well as sixteen grandchildren and twenty-five great grandchildren.

Lorraine will always be remembered as a loving wife and mother (grandmother and great grandmother) who was selfless of her time and attention; devoted to her family beyond measure.

A grave-side funeral service will be held on May 12, 2020 at 11:00AM at the Reeder Cemetery across the street from the Campton Assembly of God Church (Hwy 85 and Luke Lane).  Unfortunately, due to the current pandemic restrictions, this service is to be attended only by the immediate family.

Arrangements are entrusted to Whitehurst Powell Funeral Home in Crestview. Guest book and condolences are available online at www.whitehurstpowellfuneralhome.com

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