Lorraine Barrack

1933 - 2024

LORRAINE BARRACK

Williamsburg, MA - Lorraine Carol Barrack passed away peacefully in her sleep on July 29, 2024 at the age of 91. She was born in Brooklyn, NY on March 16, 1933 to the late Helen (Billig) Paskow and Albert Paskow. After graduating from New Utrecht High School at the age of 16, she attended Hunter College in Manhattan, from where she graduated with her BA in 1954. She later received a Master's degree in social work from New Hampshire College. Lorraine married the love of her life, Jack Barrack, a World War II veteran, in 1950 when she was 17, and they enjoyed a happy marriage for 59 years until Jack's death in 2009. After moving to Connecticut in 1954, first living at Lorraine's parents' farm in Columbia, and then an apartment in Willimantic, Lorraine and Jack had their first child, Randi. After Jack, who was teaching English at Bolton (CT) High School, obtained a position with the U.S. Army as a civilian teacher at Army dependent schools in Europe, the young family moved to Metz, France in 1957, where they had their second child, Robert. They subsequently lived in Augsburg, West Germany, and Poitiers and Orleans, France. While living in Europe, Lorraine volunteered at Army hospitals and tutored soldiers. Lorraine and Jack also traveled extensively throughout Europe. After returning to the U.S. in 1965, the Barrack family settled in Middletown, CT, where Jack worked for the Wesleyan Univ. Press, before he returned to teaching. Lorraine took a position as a social worker with the Family Service Assn. of Central CT in Meriden, CT, where she became the Director. In that position, Lorraine was a passionate advocate for the underprivileged and the elderly, and was renowned for her expertise at obtaining grants and government subsidies for her non-profit organization. Despite that demanding job, Lorraine still found the time to do volunteer work counseling and helping to obtain benefits for Vietnam veterans struggling with PTSD and Agent Orange exposure. She was also a wonderful cook and devoted and loving wife and mother.

After Lorraine and Jack retired, they moved to the beautiful Western Massachusetts town of Williamsburg in 1991. They appreciated the rural setting, as well as the arts scene, restaurants and shops of nearby Northampton. They continued to enjoy travelling in Europe, as well as relaxing on the beaches of Cape Cod and Cape Ann. They made many wonderful friends in the community. After Jack's passing in 2009, Lorraine continued to live at their home in Williamsburg and volunteered at the Meekins Library there even into her 80s. She could not imagine living anywhere else, even when her family tried to convince her to move back to Connecticut. Lorraine had a brilliant mind, and expressed her caring nature by providing insightful guidance and advice to friends and family alike. She loved to share interesting stories with all who would listen, and especially enjoyed reading, which was a passion she shared with Jack, who was a published poet. Lorraine enjoyed relatively good health until the last couple of years when she began having health issues, which she fought valiantly and resiliently until the end. She was deeply grateful for the loving help of her family, friends, neighbors, and caregivers during this time. In addition to many wonderful cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends, Lorraine's survivors include her daughter, Randi Barrack Stone and her husband Edward Stone of Yarmouthport, MA, her son Robert Barrack and his wife Lori of Colchester, CT, her granddaughter Jillian Carey and her husband Brendan Carey of West Hartford, CT, her grandson Daniel Barrack and his partner Jessica Wang of Glastonbury, CT, her brand new great granddaughter Nora Grace Carey, who was born on June 21, 2024, and her cat, Catnip.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Czelusniak Funeral Home, 173 North St, Northampton, MA, where visiting hours will be held on August 7, 2024 from 8 to 9:30 am, followed by a burial at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, MA at 1:30 pm, where she will be reunited with Jack. In lieu of flowers, please provide donations to the Williamsburg Senior Center, P.O. Box 193, 141 Main Street, Haydenville, MA 01039 (Senior Center | Williamsburg MA (burgy.org)).

Please go to Czelusniakfuneralhome.com for online condolences and tribute book.