Lorraine Keefe

(Courier News)
(Home News Tribune)

LORRAINE KEEFE
AGE: 81 SPOTSWOOD
Marie Lorraine (Dugas) Keefe, 81, of Spotswood, died Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at Madison Center, Old Bridge.
Mrs. Keefe, known to her many friends and family as Lorraine, was born and raised in Milton, Massachusetts. She married the love of her life, Jim Keefe on February 7, 1948. Two years later, Jim went into the US Army and together with their children, Pat, Kathy and Kevin, they began a life long adventure traveling around the world. Lorraine and her family lived in Japan, France and five states in the USA. As Jim would go ahead of the family on military transfers, Lorraine would arrange to pack up and move her family, arrange for her children's schooling, and make all the travel arrangements for their three feisty children onto ships, planes, trains and cars. To help her family, Lorraine worked several jobs over the years, including EKG technician, practical nurse, real estates sales associate, and her favorite job of all, jeweler.
Lorraine and Jim settled in Spotswood 28 years ago and she became very active in the Clearwater community in which they lived. She prided herself on her volunteering and charity work, which included supporting numerous national and local charities, mentoring teens in a high school reading program, and performing as a clown at events for local children. She also had a lifelong passion for oil painting and was quite proud of her work. Lorraine's greatest loves, however, were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. "Nana" was loved by all of her grandchildren and she remained in close touch with them, especially as they were starting their own families.
Lorraine was known by her family and friends for her love of life, quick wit, her dogged determination in handling problems and her willingness to help anyone in need.
Predeceased by her husband, Jim in 2007 and her son Kevin in 1991, she is survived by her son, Patrick Keefe, and his wife LuAnn of the Annandale section of Clinton Twp; her daughter, Kathleen Fox, and her husband Duane of Bangor, ME; a daughter-in-law, Susan Keefe of Old Bridge; her sister, Hazel Crawford of Marshfield, MA; her brother, Dennis Dugas of Melrose, MA; nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends on Monday from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the Spotswood Funeral Home, 475 Main Street, Spotswood. Funeral services are private. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations honoring Lorraine's memory to Cranberry Hospice, 36 Cordage Park Circle, Suite 326, Plymouth, MA 02360 or, online at www.jordanhospital.org. For directions or to send an e-mail condolence, please visit us online at www. spotswoodfuneralhome.com