Constance Lorraine Abels

CONSTANCE LORRAINE ABELS
February 22, 1929 ˜ December 29, 2022

Constance Lorraine Abels was born to Violet and Clyde Temple in the city of Chehalis, WA. Lorraine was the oldest of three children, known as Sis (Lorraine), Bud (brother Keith), and Babe (sister Charlotte).
Lorraine grew up in Randle, WA, the homesteading area of her ancestors. Assorted animals, dogs, a pet deer named Bambi, a horse named Laddie, lambs, and chickens were part of the family.
She enjoyed baton-twirling, singing, stamp collecting, playing violin, riding the small motor bike her dad built, equipped with an attached flashlight for night driving! Watch out, cougars and bears!
Lorraine worked at her family-owned Motel/Gas Station/Store/Ice Cream Parlor, and did everything from pumping gas, to serving up the ice cream. It was in doing so that she met her future husband, Duane Abels.
She graduated from White Pass High School, then attended Central Washington University, where she also had the honor of being a CWU Princess one year. Lorraine graduated with her degree in education. She taught Elementary level, for Wenatchee, and Vancouver Schools.
Lorraine and Duane married in 1950 and together had four children, Scott, Janet, Diane, and Gary. Those family years were filled with camping trips, gardening, bridge playing, sewing, entertaining, cooking, baking. She so enjoyed reading recipes, collecting them, and discovering new dishes to try. Her recipe snippings along with her handwritten recipes are a treasure to her kids.
In her later years, Mom worked for a local Optometrist and, Mervyns Department store until her retirement. She loved traveling, geology, music, dancing, singing with the Marshall community center, riding the bus to various casinos with ’the girls“. still collecting recipes, still entertaining, playing Bunco, and the wonderful friendships of her neighbors at Ryerson Square.
Mom is at rest now, free of the limitations of her physical body, and joins Clyde, Violet, Bud, and Babe. She is survived by her four children, 6 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.
A private family gathering is planned this Summer, late July.
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