Lorraine Giardino

Lorraine Barbara Giardino

1932 - 2021

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Obituary of Lorraine Barbara Giardino

Lorraine Barbara Bell Giardino, 89, born February 1932 in Queens, NY, and raised in Manhasset, NY, passed peacefully 8 December 2021 in Charlotte, NC. By her side were her daughter Leslie, son Michael and his wife Laura, and granddaughter Margaux. In addition to her two children, Lorraine is survived by her sister Claudia and six grandchildren: Margaux, James, Alexandra, Margaret, Daniel and David, along with four step-grands: Leslie, Claire, Julia, Cameron and a step great grandson Hartford. She was predeceased by her loving husband M. David Giardino in 2013 and her sister Eunice Johns in 2000. Lorraine was the consummate mother. She had no greater joy in life than her family including her children, grandchildren, son-in- law Jim Mackinson, daughters- in- law Sandra and Laura Giardino, her sister and brother-in-law Claudia and Bob Gedmin and a host of nieces and nephews. Following her graduation from Centenary College, Lorraine married her beau Dave, and joined him for his senior year at Princeton University. Upon Dave’s graduation in 1953, Dave joined the Navy, which led the young couple to a military life where Dave served in Newport RI, Brooklyn NY, and Stockton CA. They returned to the east coast with their young son Michael settling in the Summit NJ area in 1957. Daughter Leslie arrived in 1959 and the couple made Summit the place where they raised their family. During the Summit years, the Giardinos were active both socially and politically. They were founding members of PADA – Parents Against Drug Abuse – active members of the Summit Presbyterian Church, as well as the local chapter of the NJ Cerebral Palsy Foundation. Dave and Lorraine also campaigned for local, state, and federal candidates for office and also led an active social life with a close group of dear friends. Lorraine joined and eventually became a crew chief on the Summit Rescue Squad. Foremost, however, Lorraine supported her family, attending most every sporting and school event that she could and traveled the world with Dave as he pursued his business interest. 1984 found both Michael and Leslie married and living in Princeton, NJ. So, they decided to return to their initial stomping grounds and join the kids. In the beginning, it was a bit of an adjustment for them both, but they soon became active members of the community. Lorraine became a deacon at Nassau Presbyterian Church and continued to travel in support of Dave, but her real love remained the family group back home in Princeton – especially as grandchildren began to arrive starting in the early 1980’s. “Nan” was truly the glue that bound the family together. Following the death of her husband in 2013, Lorraine made the difficult choice to leave Princeton for Charlotte, NC to be near Leslie and Jim. Here she lived independently in her own home along with her companion Maltese dogs, surrounded by her collection of cherished items collected with Dave over their many years together and enjoying her garden with its many feathered visitors. Leslie, Jim and son Daniel made that happy situation possible by attending to her needs as she aged. Covid impacted Lorraine’s ability to share as much time with loved ones as she would have wished…. As is the case with so many. This wonderful daughter of God will be missed by many and welcomed home by many more. A Celebration of Life in Lorraine’s honor will be planned for early 2022. Lorraine will be interred in a private ceremony, joining her husband Dave, at Princeton Cemetery, Princeton NJ. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Dementia Society: www.dementiasociety.org or to Autism Research: www.autism.org. Feel free to leave the family your condolences via the Tribute Wall provided.
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We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Hankins and Whittington Funeral Services