Lorraine C. McNeill

Lorraine Constance (Lamy) McNeill died peacefully surrounded by her loving family on September 17th at the age of 88. Lorraine lived a rich life full of family, love, fun, and adventure.

Lorraine was born May 24, 1930 on Heald Street in Pinardville to Joseph and Laura Lamy. She was raised on Manchester's West Side on Hevey Street with her little sister Violetta and baby brother Joe. The Lamy children would often ride buses with their father who started Manchester's first bus service Notre Dame Bus Lines. Lorraine attended St. Edmund schools and graduated from Cathedral High School. After high school she worked at the telephone company and started her lifelong love of skiing by hopping the legendary ski trains north. Lorraine continued skiing into her seventies often skiing with three generations of McNeills who all carried on her winter passion. Lorraine always had a love of learning, travel, and adventure and at age 23 joined the US Air Force serving during the Korean War. She completed her basic training in Lockland, TX and was stationed at Andrews Air Force Base as a meteorologist. Lorraine would often "hop" military flights from Andrews's home to Grenier Field to visit family on weekends.

While in the Air Force she met her future husband Frederick J. McNeill of Boston, MA. Together they had five children that were raised in Bedford and Londonderry. Lorraine was a single mother who raised five "spirited" children. Despite the hardships of single motherhood, she was always game to take the five kids and their friends to the beach, to the drive-in, or skiing at Cannon Mt. Although money was often short, she always found a way to support all of her children's activities and endeavors.

After her children started school Lorraine decided it was time for her to return to school and, while raising five children, attained a BS in mathematics from Notre Dame College at age 41. Her thirst for education continued as Lorraine graduated from New Hampshire Collage with an MBA at age 55. Lorraine's love of learning also led her to be a premier SCRABBLE player, a keen cribbage partner, and a nightly Jeopardy armchair champion. Lorraine spent the majority of her professional career as a claims manager with John Hancock Insurance. After retirement she started a second career working for the IRS during tax season.

Lorraine (MiMi) was most happy on adventures with her children and grandchildren where she traveled to Europe, the Middle East, and Hawaii. She and her constant and trusted travel companions, daughter Patrice and grandson Chris, had a timeshare in Cancun that they enjoyed annually for decades. These three traveled the world together always looking for that next adventure. MiMi also had a very special relationship with her granddaughter Danielle and the two would travel to Florida together.

Lorraine always had dreams of a "shack on the water" and in 1982 she bought that shack on Daniel's Lake in Weare. Holidays, birthdays, cook-outs, swimming, skating, and 4th-of-July parties were all annual activities on Daniels Lake. Here her seven grandchildren have built lifelong memories filled with MiMi's kindness and Love. With a smile on her tanned face and a rum and coke in hand, Loraine was truly the matriarch of the McNeill family. She organized annual family vacations to Rangeley, ME which resulted in decades of treasured memories. A lover of the arts, Lorraine was always ready to go to a play, a concert, a new restaurant, or the latest movie with her family and friends. Later in life she became a big Boston sports fan and was always in attendance with her Patriots shirt for McNeill play-off parties. Lorraine's love of life touched all and she will be very deeply missed.

Lorraine leaves her dear younger brother Joseph Lamy formerly of Suncook, loving children Patrice Trombley of Weare, Fred McNeill of Manchester, Paul and Paula McNeill of Rutland, VT, Adele and Harry Walker of Newmarket, and newlyweds David and Cathy McNeill of Hooksett. Loving grandchildren include Danielle Walker, Eric Walker, Chris Trombley, Jeff McNeill, Nick McNeill, Ken McNeill, and Jessica McNeill.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to Concord Regional VNA Hospice a true house of professionalism and compassion.

Services - A Mass will be held at 10:00 am on September 24th at St. Lawrence Church in Goffstown and a Celebration of Life will be held after the burial at 12:30 pm at Belmont Hall in Manchester. For more information or to sign an online guest book go to www.frenchandrising.com