Joyce Beverly Lorraine

Joyce Beverly Miller Lorraine passed away peacefully August 28th 2024 surrounded by her loved ones and her 2 beloved dogs Oliver and Teddy, after a 4 year courageous battle with cancer and a recent battle with dementia.
She was born in Bristol February 20, 1940 and was a lifelong resident of the town. She leaves behind her husband and love- Richard Lorraine of 57 years; her daughter/ best friend Gretchen Lorraine-Guevara and her husband Ray Guevara and their son (her only grandchild) Nickolas; and her son Jeffrey Lorraine of Clinton who spent many weekends with her.
She was predeceased by her parents Howard and Eugenia Miller as well as two sisters.one being Marilyn Allen and many nieces, nephews.
Joyce was a graduate of St Josephs elementary school and Bristol High School. She also went to school in New York City for a brief period to be and airline stewardess, before realizing it wasnt the career for her. She also worked for Sears Roebuck in customer service for a stent before she started her family.
She was a devoted wife and mother to her familyraising her children was her top priority. She went back to work at G. Fox and Co for a while when her children grew older; before starting an approximate 20 year career in I.T. at The Hartford Insurance Co, which she retired from.
She was also a lifelong practicing parishioner of St Matthew Church. which she sometimes served as an usher when needed. Church and breakfast at Rodds on Sunday morning was a routine she rarely missed with her husband Richard.
As a person she was the sweetest, most easy-going mild-mannered womanalways willing to do just about anything fun. She was as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside; but always so humble. She never complained, even after battling her health obstacles and two major surgeries over the last 3 years; spending two very difficult weeks in Yale New Haven hospital. She was admirable in her fight to live life to the fullest; and was determined in her recoveries.
In her retirement she was fortunate enough to travel extensively with her husband Richard to many places in Europe including Italy and Spain; and all over the islands on multiple cruises; as well as Ireland. She recently spent much of her time in the last 5 summers with her family boating and "glamping" in Watch Hill RI as she loved the ocean.
She was selfless in her actions to her family; always supporting the people she cared for and loved selflessly. She was responsible for the "tight knit loving family she created and enjoyed. If you were loved by her, you felt it. She absolutely loved dogs.
She was inspirational even in her recent years before her health struggles; still enjoying activities that kept her young at heart and in great physical shapelike boogie boarding, jet skiing with her daughter, bike riding with the family; hiking with the dogs; zhumba at Y and Senior center; sledding at Page Park; even lifting weights with her trainer Butch.
She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed!
Calling hours will be held on Saturday, August 31, 2024 at OBrien Funeral Home, 24 Lincoln Ave., Bristol from 9AM until 10AM then to St. Matthew Church for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30AM followed by a procession to St. Joseph Cemetery.
Services
Visitation
Saturday
August 31, 2024
9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
O'Brien Funeral Home
24 Lincoln Ave.
Bristol, CT 06010
Service
Saturday
August 31, 2024
10:30 AM to TBD
St. Matthew Church
120 Church Ave.
Bristol, CT 06010
Cemetery
Holy Family Chapel Mausoleum/St. Joseph Cemetery
522 Terryville Ave.
Bristol, CT 06010 To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Joyce, please visit our Tree Store.