Lorraine Alice McGrath Piety a 60-year resident of Lombard Lorraine Alice McGrath Piety, age 86, a sixty-year resident of Lombard, died June 16, 2013, in the early morning hours at Brighton Gardens Assisted Care facility in Boca Raton Florida where she had resided for the past three years. Lorraine was born August 30, 1926 in Omaha, Nebraska to the late Daniel McGrath and Alice May Keyes McGrath. Upon her father's untimely death, Lorraine and her mother relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota when she was just five years old. It was there that Lorraine flourished as a student in the Minneapolis Public School system. After graduating from Washburn High School, Lorraine attended Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa and received her Bachelor's Degree and Teaching Certificate in 1948 from the University of Minnesota. It was during her years at the university that she met the love of her life, James Whigham Piety, at a social at the Wesley Foundation on campus. Jim loved Lorraine's beautiful red hair. Jim and Lorraine married on December 29, 1951 in Minneapolis, during the Christmas holidays. They relocated to Tyler, Minnesota for three years while Jim taught high school and Lorraine taught in the primary grades. They settled in Lombard, Illinois near Jim's family in 1958 and raised their family. Lorraine enjoyed gardening, birding, art and traveling. She held long time memberships with the Arboretum, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Lombard Garden Club, the American Association of University Women, the Lombard chapter of PEO and various school related groups during her children's formative years. Lorraine was the Director of the Gerber Daycare Center in Villa Park, Illinois during the 1980s and 1990's. During her tenure there she was well loved and appreciated by the staff, children and their families. Lorraine was instrumental in allowing fish, a rather large bunny and numerous small animals to visit the center at certain times. She and Jim enjoyed a long tenure and fellowship with the Christian Church of Villa Park in Villa Park, Illinois. They both served the church community in numerous administrative positions and programs. Lorraine sang in the church choir for many years and taught Sunday school. She was quick to meet a need whether it be helping out with a meal or volunteering in the church food pantry. Lorraine's great passions were serving her family and delighting in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved taking them on camping trips to Pine View Camp Ground, on museum visits, to Lambs Farm and the Lipizzaner Stallion Shows. Lorraine enjoyed annual outings to The Little Traveler in Geneva with her family. She loved taking the train to Marshall Fields and shopping, too. Lorraine loved Christmas time, as well. She was instrumental in creating "Christmas magic" in her home. There were always extra chairs at Jim and Lorraine's holiday table for friends of the family. Every Sunday Lorraine made Sunday dinner an event. Her favorite meal to prepare and eat was her famous rolled roast. Lorraine Piety was a loving, devoted and loyal wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to all. She was kind-hearted and gentle-spirited. Lorraine had an undeniably positive impact on her children and grandchildren and their passion for education in their life. Lorraine constantly gave to others without being asked for anything in return. She is and will always be lovingly remembered by her family and friends. Those left to cherish her memory include her son, Thomas (Jody) of Wheaton, IL, Mary Alice (Richard) Boucher of Pembroke Pines, Florida, Lori Piety Deckert of Lombard, IL, and Lisa (James) Hartmann of Sister Bay, Wisconsin. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband of 55 years, Jim, who adored her and always felt very fortunate to have her, her older brother, Daniel, who died as a child, and an infant granddaughter, Abigail Faith Hartmann. A celebration of Lorraine's life will be held on her birthday, Friday, August 30, 2013, at 10:30 A.M. at Morton Arboretum, at the Thornhill Education Center's Founders Room, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532. Guests should notify security at the admissions window they are there for the Piety Memorial and they will be excused the admission fees. Immediately following the service a luncheon will be held at College Church in Wheaton, Illinois. All are welcome to attend. The address of the church is 332 East Seminary Street, in the church commons building. Directions to College Church will be handed out at the memorial service. Memorial gifts may be directed in Jim and Lorraine Piety's name to the Morton Arboretum, Attn: Development, 4100 IL Route 53, Lisle, Illinois 60532 or the
National Office, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois 60601, www.alz.org As in Sister Bay, Wisconsin, where the extended Piety family has enjoyed many years of vacation time, a bench will be dedicated to the Piety family at the Morton Arboretum for the enjoyment of nature in Jim and Lorraine's honor. "May the road rise up to meet you, May the wind always be at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, May the rains fall soft upon your fields And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His Hand." Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.
Published in Chicago Suburban Daily Herald from Aug. 25 to Aug. 28, 2013
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