Lorraine Trudeau Oelschlager

James Oelschlager OBITUARY: “Gone But Never Forgotten, Forever in Our Hearts”, Lorraine Trudeau Oelschlager passed away on Tuesday, May 17th at Spenger Healthcare of Port Royal, South Carolina (SC) at age 91. Lorraine’s oldest son, Tom, who lives locally was at her bedside. Over the past several months, multiple surviving family members were able to spend meaningful time with Lorraine at home and at healthcare facilities. Out-of-state family included her son James and grandson Willem, daughter Laura and husband Ron Sbordone, grandson Matt Wiatrowski including wife Grace, and great-grandchild Elle “Lorraine”. Tom’s wife Kathleen and grandson Daniel, also spent time with Mom. Lorraine is also survived by her grandson Derek Wiatrowski son of Laura, Krista and Tara Sbordone daughter’s of Laura and Ron Sbordone, and her nephew’s Ronald and Michael Lauer and Ronald’s children Marty, Eric and Edward Lauer. On the Davis side of the family some of the immediate families children are still alive, and on the Horton side Mom’s Dad had a son (John Horton) from another marriage and he had 2-daughter’s Denise and Monique Horton. Lorraine was in regular contact with Denise in Louisiana since 2014. Lorraine was excited to announce her great-grandchild Elle “Lorraine” being born in 2021, and Elle and family visited with Mom in April at Sprenger. Lorraine also had many wonderful neighbors and friends in Sun City who regularly visited and laughed with her prior to the recent illness episodes. Many close friends from the Sun City neighborhood had regular contact with Mom and provided her much laughter and support. In fact, her neighbors and friends in Sun City including Mary, Carole, Eriko, Flo, Bob/Beth, Bill/Janine, Sue and others helped Lorraine celebrate her 90th birthday in January 2021. The 90th birthday celebrations included a front yard decorated with birthday themed items, a barbershop quartet greeting her at her front door, golf cart parade at the house and another birthday celebration at her friend Carole's house. Additionally, Lorraine had 2-Sun City friends, Carole Mullins and Eriko Shimko who provided compassionate care at her home toward the end, along with all of the children Tom, Jim and Laura and their families spending time at Lorraine's home intermittently over the last several months of her life. From a medical perspective, Lorraine had a difficult 2022, with multiple hospitalizations due to pulmonary hypertension, pneumonia and cardiac issues. Lorraine overcame many challenges in her lifetime, and she remained brave when facing adversity and showed her compassion by supporting others when they faced similar adversity. Lorraine’s friendliness, sense of humor and ability to see everyone’s “positives” served her well in a successful 50-year nursing career. She attended the Cochran School of Nursing in Yonkers, NY, in 1949, graduating with her RN degree in September 1952. Lorraine and parents were involved in a MVA in 1950, and her father did not survive. Lorraine continued her training after rehabilitation, and she became a “Registered Professional Nurse” in NY in December 1952. Lorraine eventually specialized in “Gerontological Nursing” and was certified by the American Nurses Association in 1992. Lorraine eventually worked as Director of Nursing and then Staff Development at private nursing homes in New Jersey and Connecticut. Lorraine was an only child, born to Eleanor and Laurim Horton. She had a close relationship with her mother’s 3-siblings, especially Aunt Marney Lauer and husband Carl and their 2-children. Following nursing school, and 9-months of engagement, Lorraine married Richard Oelschlager in 1955. Lorraine and Richard had 3-children, and a close relationship with their children and extended family, including 6-grandchildren and 1-great-grandchild. Lorraine was always available to her grandchildren, including babysitting, baking cookies and holiday meals, making sleep-overs fun, playing board games, decorating for holiday’s, attending school activities, concerts and athletic events, etc. Lorraine’s high energy level and willingness to engage with her family was always appreciated, and her grandchildren affectionately called her “Nanny”. Lorraine attended many of her son Tom’s trumpet concerts in Bluffton, SC with the Lowcountry Wind Symphony and church services. Lorraine’s hobbies included collecting antiques, dolls, african violets and gardening. Her sentimental memories of how she acquired a piece of furniture or the origin of a “plant cutting”, was flawless to the end. Although Lorraine was living in Sun City in Bluffton, SC when she passed, she was born in Manhattan, New York in 1931, and she primarily lived in the Tristate area of the US (NY, NJ and CT) for almost 80-years prior to moving to SC in 2009. Lorraine lived in New York for over 25-years, then New Jersey (20), Connecticut (25) and Bluffton, SC for 12 years. She enjoyed an active, friendly and engaged social life, always “opening” her door for neighbors, friends and family, leaving a lasting impression and smile for those who knew her. She remained eager to host a social gathering at her home, to welcome new neighbors, celebrate a birthday, play card games such as “Mexican Train” with friends and grandchildren. At the end of her life, she expressed living a rewarding life with many roles including being a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, nurse and good friend to many in Bluffton. Lorraine’s remains will be joined at a family plot at Evergreen Cemetery in Killingworth, CT along with her husband Richard and remains of 2-dogs. Lorraine’s Aunt and Uncle’s remains, are also at this cemetery along with her mother Eleanor Horton’s. No formal ceremony has been established, she will be greatly missed by all, donations can be made to the American Lung Association or Maranatha Farm Animal Rescue. Mom will be greatly missed by her family, she was a great role model for being a parent, grandparent, friend and how to stay engaged with other’s as we age! SPECIFIC DATE’s AND NAMES OF THE INDIVIDUALS IN THE PHOTO WILL BE EVENTUALLY ADDED TO THE TIMELINE SEPARATELY. UNTIL THEN, ENJOY SOME OF THE WONDERFUL FAMILY AND FRIEND PHOTO MEMORIES CONNECTED TO LORRAINE OELSCHLAGER.

James Oelschlager LORRAINE’S MOTHERS FAMILY HISTORY: Lorraine was an only child, born to Eleanor Davis-Horton in Manhattan, New York, in January of 1931. Lorraine’s mother, Eleanor Irene Davis, was born in Canton New York in 1904. Eleanor was the first child of Clarence J. Davis and Eva Risley Davis. Clarence was the son of Charles M. Davis and Caroline Smithers-Davis from Upstate New York region. Eleanor had 2-brothers Charles and Henry Davis and a sister Marion “Marney” Davis. Eleanor’s father Clarence Davis was electrocuted in an industrial accident while working as a millwright at the Algonquin Paper Co. in Ogdensburg, NY at the age of 45. Eleanor’s mother Eva Risley Davis also died at a young age, age 46, suffering from hypertension and then a stroke while vacationing in Kissimmee, Florida. Following Eleanor’s mother Eva passing away from a stroke in 1930, her sister Marney at age 12, went to live with Eleanor in Yonkers, NY. At that time Eleanor was 27-years old, and teaching in Ardsley, NY, with Lorraine born shortly after Marney moved in with Eleanor and her husband Larry. After Lorraine was born in 1931, she became very close with Eleanor’s siblings, including Marney who was living with Eleanor and family and “Uncle Charlie”. Growing up, Lorraine described Marney as being “like a sister to me”, and they remained close throughout their life. Additionally, her uncle Charlie later served as the “father of the bride” at Lorraine’s wedding to Richard Oelschlager on July 2, 1955, due to her father Laurim Horton passing away in a MVA in 1950. Lorraine’s mother, Eleanor and the Davis family were raised in Canton New York, a region located in “Upstate NY”. This northern region of New York was considered an agricultural and farming area, about 20-miles South of the Canadian Border. Eleanor’s great-grandfather Jacob Davis purchased 200-acres of farm land in Canton in the 1850’s. The farm had apple orchards, “sugar bush” or sugar maple trees to “tap” maple syrup and sugar, as well as livestock. The farm included barns, ice-sheds, a grain silo and buildings for milking the cows, housing the farm animals and storing hay and farm equipment. Eleanor described her memories of the farm including obtaining sugar from the maple trees in winter, as well as harvesting honey. She described initially catching a bee with her brother’s, putting the bee in a bag and coating the bee with flour. Once the bee was released the family would follow the “flour coated bee” to the tree where the bee nest was able to be located, along with the honey. In the winter, they would cut down the hollow tree and harvest the long honey slabs. Eleanor also later shared with her grandchildren that her stomach could only “handle the milk” from one specific cow on the Davis farm! Lorraine and daughter Laura, later enjoyed cooking and baking breads, many skills that Lorraine’s mother Eleanor learned from her upbringing on the family farm in Canton, New York. Lorraine’s grandmother and grandfather on the Davis side of family, unfortunately had passed away before Lorraine was born. Lorraine remembered the “absence” of having an opportunity to interact with her grandparents as a child. As a result, she welcomed future opportunities for her children to interact with their grandparents as often as possible. At that time Lorraine’s husbands parents William and Elsie Oelschlager were living in Jackson Heights NYC and Lorraine’s mother Eleanor, in Yonkers NY. Later in life Lorraine and her husband Richard welcomed Lorraine’s mother Eleanor Horton and father-in-law William Oelschlager into their home to live at different points of their lives. As a grandmother, Lorraine consistently made herself available to all of her grandchildren, and dedicated time to getting to know each grandchild, and engaging in activities with each one. Lorraine’s mother Eleanor was a good role model for this and as an art teacher she always had a project for us to do when visiting, or a shirt or outfit that she made for one of us for a holiday event and even Halloween outfits. Mom and Grandma were very close and enjoyed traveling and spending time together before and after Mom was married. In photos: #1 Lorraine’s mother Eleanor Davis with brothers Henry and Charles Davis, #2: Lorraine’s mother in 1922 age 18, #3: Sister Marney Davis-Lauer, #4: Eleanor’s family on the farm, #5: Eleanor’s sister Marney and brother Henry along with family, #6: Jessie (Eleanor’s father’s sister), Carrie (Eleanor’s father wife, Clarence (Eleanor’s father as child) and Charles M. Davis (Eleanor’s father’s Dad), #7: Eleanor’s father and mother and #8:Eleanor’s great grandfather J. Henry, brother Charles C, her father Clarence back row, and her grandfather Charles Davis far right, for 4-generations! and #9: Lorraine’s mother Eleanor as a child, #10 and 11: Mom and Grandma Eleanor site seeing, probably in New Hampshire where Dad and his family also traveled frequently. Thank you Dad for the great photos you took documenting the family history RIP !

James Oelschlager LORRAINE’s UNCLE CARL ALEXANDER LAUER IS BORN NOVEMBER 24, 1916. Carl was born and raised in Killingworth Connecticut. After he retired and sold their home in Killingworth on Rt. 80, Carl returned to his childhood home where Carl and wife Marney (Grandma El’s sister) remained until passing away in 2005 (Carl) and 2010 (Marney). Carl’s father Alexander Lauer was an artist who studied “Fresco painting” on fresh plaster while in Heidelberg, Germany. Carl was married to Grandma El’s youngest sibling, her sister Marney in January 1942. A year before getting married, Carl was drafted into the Signal Corp. division of US Army in 1941 and served in Army until 1945, attaining the rank of Captain when he completed his tour of duty. His first child Ronald Lauer was born in 1944, shortly before Carl was deployed to England, France and eventually Germany, serving at Battle of Bulge during World War II. During this time overseas, Marney lived with family members with Ronald, including living with Eleanor and Lorraine. Marney had previously lived with Eleanor and family from age 12 to 23. Marney and Eleanor’s parents had died when Marney was 8 ( father) and 12 (mother). Lorraine had fond memories of growing up with Marney and helping out when Ronald was born when Carl was overseas. Carl enjoyed farming, gardening and boating and at one point Carl and Dad had a share boat in Clinton, CT. Growing up we spent many weekends at Marney and Carl’s house, sometimes riding our bikes from the Cabin on Roast Meat Hill Road in Killingworth, CT. We also enjoyed many outdoor picnics and grilling, sometimes lobster that Carl trapped in Long Island Sound. Carl and Marney’s barn served as a “Kodak Moment” location for many family photo’s, including the white gate that as children we all enjoyed trying to balance on !

James Oelschlager Eleanor Davis-Horton, Lorraine’s Mom had a rich history of living off the land in the early 1900’s, growing up in Canton, New York on family farmland in the Davis family. This photo highlights some of the vegetables she proudly displays for a 4-H type club as a teenager. Eleanor and her husband Laurim Horton continued to utilize farming skills after they moved to 4-Troy Lane in Yonkers, New York in the 1930’s. Lorraine’s father Laurim is in the second photo, at their home in Yonkers, NY.

James Oelschlager Lorraine’s mother Eleanor Davis in 1922 at age 18. The other photos are her mother and father Clarence J. Davis and Eva Risley Davis. Unfortunately both of Eleanor’s parents died before they turned 50, her father electrocuted in an industrial accident and mother of a stroke associated with hypertension. Lorraine mentioned many times that the lack of involvement with grandparents as a child was an empty spot for her growing up. She vowed to make every effort to allow her children to spend time with their grandparents and relatives. She succeeded in her goal with many opportunities for us to spend time with her mother as well as husband Richard’s parents William and Elsie.

James Oelschlager LORRAINE OELSCHLAGER BORN IN JANUARY 1931: Eleanor Horton at age 26 met Laurim Ezra Trudeau Horton in 1930. At that time Laurim was working at a brokerage firm on Wall Street and he later worked at Texaco Company in sales. Eleanor shared with me memories of Laurim also being involved with golf course management in Westchester at a private club at one point. Eleanor and Laurim initially purchased their home at 4-Troy Lane in Yonkers, NY. The home had a memorable view overlooking the city of Yonkers. Some of the view can be seen in photo with Mom and her dog “Chucky”. Lorraine Trudeau Horton was born in about a year, in January 1931, after they had moved into their home. Eleanor continued teaching in Ardsley New York until she retired in 1958 after 30-years. When I did live with Eleanor for 2-years in the mid 1970’s she shared with me the struggles of being pregnant with a child as a school teacher in 1930’s. She described wearing a “Muumuu” type baggy dress that hid her pregnancy as much as possible. In addition to Eleanor teaching in Ardsley NY, she also operated a custom candle company that Eleanor, Lorraine and her father worked at in the basement of their Yonkers home. Eleanor had all the necessary manufacturing equipment at the home and created custom candle molds such as Santa’s boots, snowballs and holiday themes. Eleanor sold the candles to several retail stores in the New York City area. The stores included the B. Altman Store in NYC, a luxury department store chain founded in NYC in 1865. Eleanor’s family candle company products were a featured item at the Altman store, and the candle company flourished up until World War II (1940’s). At that time material and supplies were no longer available, as America needed these resources to support World War II manufacturing. Eleanor was very patriotic, and when asked about closing her family business, she described good memories and no remorse for doing what was necessary for World War II efforts. Lorraine also discussed positive memories of helping out with her mother’s candle productions and working in their basement as a child. Lorraine saved several of the original Christmas molds that were sentimental, including Santa’s boot mold. Tom and I found the boot mold while cleaning garage contents last weekend. Grandma El, described to me, that the mold created a rough mold of an object (Santa’s boot in photo’s) and that they then would use razor knifes and other wax techniques to apply decorative pieces to the molded wax to prepare them for sale at Altman’s and Macy’s. Growing up, Lorraine’s parents took several memorable family trips to Yellowstone National Park camping in Colorado and South Dakota as well as the family spending summers in Connecticut when school and teaching were on break. It was during a summer vacation renatal home in Killingworth, CT in approximately 1953 that Lorraine and Richard met in Killingworth, CT. Unfortunately, following a family trip to Clearwater Florida in 1950 and returning home to NY, Lorraine’s father died in an automobile accident (MVA) while the family was traveling home through Danville Virginia. At that time, Lorraine was 19-years old and her mother survived the accident, sustaining many orthopedic injuries, with Lorraine’s injuries being less severe. Lorraine was relieved to learn that her beloved family dog “Chucky” had survived the MVA accident. The accident led to Lorraine’s life-long love of having a dog in her home, approximately 8-9 over her lifetime. It was rare for Lorraine and her husband to not have at least one dog in the home, on occasion two dogs. Lorraine and her husband Richard at one point simplified remembering the dogs names by naming 3 of their dog’s “Duke”. “Pumpkin” was her last dog, and she regular cooked the dog breakfast until the dog passed away in December 2021. They also saved the ashes from many of the dogs and she requested to have them buried with her and Richard at Evergreen Cemetery in Killingworth, CT. Photo #1: Laurim and Eleanor Horton with their nephew Michael Lauer (Marney Davis. Lauer son), #2: Laurim Horton dressed in his “Wall Street” suit, #3: Laurim tending garden at 4-Troy Lane, Yonkers, NY, #4: Eleanor also loved gardening they may have been competitive, #5: Lorraine with her dog Chucky, #6: Laurim with Chucky in Clearwater while on vacation on trip he would not survive and #6: Lorraine again with Chucky in early 1950’s and #7 & 8 are candle molds from 1940’s from Eleanor’s custom candle company and #9: World War II War Ration booklets for Eleanor Horton, Ezra Horton and Lorraine Horton dated May 7, 1942.

James Oelschlager LORRAINE’S HIGH SCHOOL YEARS AT ROSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL IN YONKERS, NY and GRADUATION IN JUNE 1949 : Lorraine's mother Eleanor was an art teacher in Westchester County, NY for 30-years. Eleanor served as a strong role model for Lorraine becoming resilient, independent and compassionate towards others. Eleanor also encouraged Lorraine and her grandchildren to enjoy reading and to work hard in their educational and vocational pursuits. Eleanor encouraged Lorraine to attend nursing school after graduating high school so she would have a career similar to how she attended secondary education after HS graduation. Lorraine had a love for biology and medical settings as a high school student, and described not liking math in HS, but enjoying science. As a result she described a nursing degree as being a “good fit” for her career goals. Lorraine’s mother Eleanor was teaching at a highly rated public school system in Ardsley, New York, in Westchester County, NY in the 1930’s-1960’s. Eleanor and family lived in Yonkers, New York at the time and Lorraine was enrolled in the public educational system in NY. Lorraine enjoyed singing and participated in her high school chorus. Lorraine graduated along with 350+ classmates from Theodore Roosevelt High School in Yonkers, NY on June 25th, 1949. She had fond memories of her high school years and attended the Rosevelt High School Class of 1949 50th Class Reunion on June 18th-20th, 1999, held at the Royal Regency Hotel in Yonkers NY. Mom saved her HS yearbook and her peers noted that she had the “ Mildest manners and the gentlest heart” in the yearbook. She participated in the Dance Club, Girls Choir and Acapulco Choir and she was a Junior Red Cross Member. Mom also saved her 8th grade graduation brochure from 1945. From all the signatures in her Roosevelt High School yearbook, Mom was very popular and well liked by her classmates !

James Oelschlager Grandpa Will and Dad built family Cabin in Killingworth, CT on Roast Meat Hill Road in 1949. Dad frequently had his friends also go up on weekends to help build the cabin as well as enjoy fishing and target shooting in the country. Eventually additions were added to the cabin including screened in porches. Grandpa Will and Elsie wanted to spend time away from NYC on weekends and summer’s. Dad met Mom in Killingworth, CT from when his family spent time with the Lauer family, also a German family living in Killingworth. Finish description and photos later

James Oelschlager ON TO THE COCHRAN SCHOOL OF NURSING 1949 to 1952, NURSING EDUCATION: Following high school graduation, Lorraine attended the Cochran School of Nursing in Yonkers New York. At that time Cochran was a 3-year private nursing program and Lorraine graduated with her diploma in the “Science and Practice of Nursing" in September 1952 and became a "Registered Professional Nurse" in the State of New York on December 16, 1952. Lorraine graduated on-time from nursing school, despite a family motor vehicle accident that killed her father and caused injuries to her and her mother in 1950. Lorraine and her family were returning from a vacation to Clearwater, Florida and returning in Danville Virginia when MVA occurred. Lorraine’s dog “Chucky” survived this accident, and her lifelong desire to have a dog remained burning until December 2021 when her final dog Pumpkin passed away. Following this accident, Lorraine and her mother moved her father’s mother, “Grandma Horton” who had been living in White Plains, NY into their home for her remaining years. After graduating with her RN degree, as a graduation gift, Lorraine and her mother eventually traveled through Europe in 1954 for 6-weeks. Lorraine returned with many sentimental memories as well as art pieces that she saved and gave away to her grandchildren and children in the last few years of her life. Lorraine was a “people person" and enjoyed helping others, learning about medicine and health conditions, and always had a welcoming smile for patients and their families, and took great pride in being a nurse who did the "right thing" for patients and families. Lorraine has been participating in a longitudinal health study, “The Nurses Health Study (NHS)”, and she conscientiously filled out her updated medical forms annually. In fact she made sure that Tom and I knew about the form’s so that we could submit them after she passed. The NHS Study is the largest prospective study in the US examining the risk factors for major chronic diseases in women. Nurses, like Mom, were selected because of their knowledge about health and their ability to provide complete and accurate information regarding various diseases due to their nursing education. Mom was proud of her nursing education, and was always generous with her knowledge to help friends and family when needed. She also was not afraid to offer her healthcare suggestions when you didn’t think you needed it, but Mom generally knew best! The photo’s from her yearbook’s highlight some of Mom’s training activities, as well as her faculty. Do you notice any female Dr.s in the faculty photos from the 1950’s ? NO, it was traditionally male dominated profession at that time.

James Oelschlager LORRAINE’S CAREER AS “REGISTERED NURSE” BEGINS IN 1952: NURSING CAREER: NURSING CAREER: After receiving her nursing degree in 1952 and RN license in New York in 1952, Lorraine initially worked in White Plains, NY at a nursing home type facility where her grandmother (father’s mother) was now a patient. However, after her children were born in 1956, 1958, and 1962. However, she transitioned to being a “working parent” in 1967 after her daughter Laura entered Kindergarten. Lorraine was initially performing part-time nursing and medical billing, primarily working at her children’s pediatricians office as a RN. As her children got older, Lorraine returned to full-time work and began to specialize in Geriatric Healthcare working at Van Dykes Nursing Home in Ridgewood, New Jersey for approximately 17-years. Lorraine always had a great appreciation and desire to interact with elders, in part from the absence of having grandparents to interact with as a young child. Both her grandparents on her mother’s side had died at a young age. Her mother’s father Clarence was electrocuted in his 40’s, while Eleanor was a child and Eleanor’s mother Eva, also died young of a stroke due to hypertension in her early 50’s. So both grandparents had died before Lorraine was born. Her father Laurim’s father ??? and his mother were not frequently seen until after her father died in MVA in 1950. As a result, Lorraine described getting enjoyment from working with older adults in the medical field. While working in geriatric healthcare, Lorraine frequently advanced to become a supervisor, including at Van Dykes Nursing Home and at Aaron Manor Nursing Home in Chester, CT. Lorraine also she served as Director of Staff Development at Gladeview Rehabilitation and Health in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. Lorraine eventually completed specialty nursing certification, including “Certification as a Gerontological Nurse” in January 1988. This certification required a comprehensive review course, at least two years of experience in gerontological nursing, and a passing score on examination to assure competency. Lorraine ended her nursing career working at Laurel Woods in East Haven, CT and a private duty patient at Evergreen Woods in Branford CT. She continued working into her 70’s as well as maintaining her License as a Registered Nurse in CT into her 70’s. She indicated a desire to remain current with her nursing license “in case I need to help a friend or family with medical issues or medication side-effects”. Lorraine was always quick to volunteer to help friends and family in need, including all 6-grandchildren with babysitting activities as well as offering her nursing knowledge to friends and family. Photos Above: #1: In uniform for nursing day, #2: Mom leaving Kingston Avenue Hospital, Brooklyn, NY, attending communicable disease training and Polio Epidemic. She described the training and Polio Epidemic as very sad with many children and teenagers being dead within one day of her admitting them to the hospital during her work their in 1958, #3 & 4: Certificate’s related to nursing, #5: Photo from Gladeview Training Graduation Ceremony, and her nursing degree.

James Oelschlager Mom’s mother Eleanor Horton was a good artist and made this invitation for Lorraine and Richard’s wedding for July 2, 1955.

James Oelschlager MARRIED LIFE HERE WE GO, for LORRAINE & RICHARD 1955: Following nursing school and returning from vacation in Europe, Lorraine married Richard Oelschlager on July 2, 1955 after being engaged in October 1954. Lorraine and her husband Richard, initially lived in an apartment in Flushing NY. At that time Richard was working in the Engineering Department as a cameraman at National Broadcasting Company (NBC) studios located at Rockefeller Center NYC. Richard remembered working on television shows including the Howdie Doody and Colgate Comedy show with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis. Richard and Lorraine also reminisced about the NBC Christmas parties with many entertainers with NBC attending in the early 50’s! Lorraine initially worked as a RN at St. John’s Riverside Hospital and later at a nursing home in White Plains, NY, where her father’s mother (Grandma Horton) was a patient. Lorraine and husband Richard eventually purchased their first home at Croton on the Hudson where they raised their first two children Thomas and James. Her first born was Thomas William Oelschlager born in 1956, followed by James Richard Oelschlager born in 1958, with both being born in Yonkers, New York.

James Oelschlager Lorraine’s mother’s brother, Uncle Charles Davis escorting the bride with her mother Eleanor due to father passing away in 1950 MVA. Uncle Charlie and his wife Ethlyn Davis were very close and they spent several New Years Day Open-House celebration’s at our home in Waldwick, New Jersey. Charlie’s wife Ethlyn, was a very fun person to spend time with, and is in the photo with Dad at our bar in our basement along with a pool table. Dad was then working at SWP and he had lots of access for shag carpet samples, and the majority of the basement was carpeted with many multi-colored shag carpet samples glued to floor ! The World’s Fair was in Montreal, Canada in 1967 and we rented a house on a lake in that area and stayed with the Charlie Davis Family for about a week. It was many good memories of interacting with Charlie’s daughters Linda and ??.

James Oelschlager Lorraine and her husband eventually purchased their first home at Croton on the Hudson in about 1956, where they raised their first two children Thomas and James. Her first born was Thomas William Oelschlager born in 1956, followed by James Richard Oelschlager born in 1958, with both being born in Yonkers, New York.

James Oelschlager On January 1956, Mary L. Horton, Grandma El’s husband Laurim Horton’s mother passed away at a nursing home in White Plains at 86. Although Mom described having a more limited contact with her grandmother as a child, after her father died in MVA in 1950, Mary L. Horton came to live with Grandma El and Mom. She was at Mom and Dad’s wedding in photo in July 1955.

James Oelschlager LORRAINE & RICHARD MOVE & PURCHASE HOME IN WALDWICK, NEW JERSEY: Lorraine and husband Richard and son’s Tom and Jim eventually moved to Waldwick, New Jersey located in Bergen County where educational opportunities for their children and the suburbs was a priority. At that time her husband Richard had also changed his career after NBC change of ownership, and he was managing a Sherwin-Williams Paint store in Fairlawn, New Jersey. After moving to New Jersey in the 1960’s, Lorraine’s third and final child, daughter Laura Lee Oelschlager was born in 1962 at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Following the birth of Laura, Lorraine shifted gears to being a “stay at home” mother for approximately 5-years. Lorraine and family resided in New Jersey for the next 20-years with all of the children graduating from Waldwick High School. Lorraine and Richard both loved gardening and they had remarkable flower beds in the front and back yard of their home in Waldwick, NJ. We also had a large lawn to mow and it was not easy in the early 19060’s !

James Oelschlager SISTER LAURA JOINS THE FAMILY IN MAY 1961: Add Narrative later.

James Oelschlager LORRAINE’S IN-LAWS WILLIAM and ELSIE OELSCHLAGER AND GRANDMA EL: Add later

James Oelschlager LORRAINE’S CHILDREN GROWING UP IN WALDWICK, NJ: Lorraine and her husband Richard were both very active with their children as they grew up in Waldwick, New Jersey. Waldwick was a quite superb an area of New Jersey in Bergen County, NJ. Not far from New York City for cultural and museum activities and close to the New Jersey Shore as well as in range for summer trips to Cape Cod. Where are houses located on Kennedy Drive was near many other similar a children that we were able to establish close friendships with, we had an above ground swimming pool in the backyard, room in the front yard to play stick ball, and even room on the house to put in a basketball hoop. Lorraine volunteered as a Cub Scout and Brownie leader for Tom, Jim and Laura, and was supportive of Thomas and Laura participating in drum and bugle bands competitions in Bergen County NJ and Jim participating in high school chorus. Lorraine and Richard both had an appreciation for music and participated in band and chorus when they were children. All of their children participated in music in middle and high school years. Lorraine also continued to make every effort to see her son play his trumpet at church and in concerts at many venues in New Jersey, New York and Bluffton, South Carolina. Additionally, while her children were growing up, Lorraine volunteered to teach Sunday School at the Waldwick Methodist Church, as well as providing guest lectures on art education, at the children’s elementary and middle school. Additionally, the family had a piano in their home that Lorraine enjoyed playing as well as her father-in-law William playing along with his grandchildren when visiting. Since both Dad’s grandfathers were both “piano makers or craftsman” for Steinway in Astoria after they immigrated to the US, it should be no surprise that the family had pianos ! Additionally, although Dad did not appreciate we had our own gold tee and green in our backyard by lowering the mower housing as low as possible and scalping an area in backyard! After Lorraine and Richard’s children graduated high school, Lorraine and Richard encouraged their children to continue educational endeavors. After graduating high school Tom pursued his Associates Degree in Business from Bergen Community College in mid 1970’s. After Jim graduated high school in 1976, he lived with Lorraine’s mother Eleanor in Loughman, Florida studying Horticulture and Turfgrass Management at Valencia Community College. Jim later changed his major from talking to plant’s to people, studying psychology and completing his Doctoral Degree in Clinical Psychology in 1987. Laura enjoyed fashion and cosmetology activities, and she attended Capri Institute and became licensed in Cosmetology. Tom eventually followed in his father’s footsteps and began his career in chemical coatings, with Sherwin Williams Paints and Jim followed Lorraine’s path of working in the healthcare profession and eventually working with older adults at the Department of Veterans Affairs in Orlando. Laura also incorporated many of her mother’s and grandmothers exceptional personal qualities, including her love for spending time with her children, cooking, gardening and raising a family in addition to her work. She is also now enjoying being a grandmother to Lorraine’s great granddaughter Elle and mother for her 4-children Derek, Matt, Krista and Tara.

James Oelschlager GRANDMA ELSIE OELSCHLAGER, DAD’S MOM PASSES AWAY on June 30, 1968, after struggling with cancer of her liver for about a year. After “Grandpa Will” Oelschlager retired from Duveen’s Antiques as VP in 1966, they traveled to Florida to visit Mom’s mother, AKA Grandma El in Loughman, Florida. They enjoyed Cypress Gardens on this trip, in photo below Elsie Oelschlager and Eleanor Horton. On this trip she noticed symptoms of liver cancer, and this would be her final vacation. Grandma Elsie was married to William Oelschlager for many years, and she was a very loving grandmother and mother. Grandma Elsie’s parents were Mathias and Elizabeth Heizman, and Elizabeth’s maiden name was “Scherpf”, and both were German Immigrants coming to the US in . Mathias Heizman was born 1874 to 1965 (died at age 91) and Elizabeth was born 1881 to 1959 (died at age 78). Mathias and Elizabeth were married in 1902. Great-Grandpa Heizman as well Elsie and grandpa Will, enjoyed being in the country on weekends and on vacations and the family photos are the Killingworth, CT area. The photos of Grandma Elsie and Grandpa Will with the well is the Roast Meat Hill Road Cabin property that Grandpa Will and Dad and his friends built on weekends in Killingworth, CT.

James Oelschlager Lorraine with her daughter Laura in early 1970’s, at their Waldwick, New Jersey home on 5 Kennedy Drive.

James Oelschlager While working as a nurse supervisor at Van Dykes Nursing Home in New Jersey, Mom was also very involved in her state and local nursing programs including the Graduate Nursing Guild in Ridgewood, NJ.

James Oelschlager GRANDPA WILLIAM OSCAR OELSCHLAGER passed away at age 79 due to brainstem infarction after being hospitalized for 4-days. He was semi-comatose at the time and Dad and I visited him on 2-occasions at hospital. William O. Oelschlager is standing in back of piano photo, with his son Richard Oelschlager at the piano. Grandpa’s father and his wife’s father both worked as piano maker’s at the Steinway Piano factory in Astoria, NY. From the history it appears that the families lived in Steinway Village region of Astoria when Dad was child. Grandpa was a good grandfather who visited us in New Jersey on a regular basis. Grandpa Will and Elsie always brought some button candies and eclairs from a bakery in Jackson Heights NYC when he arrived to our home. He also took Tom and I to see the French Connection when that movie came out, with some scenes filmed in NYC near his residence. He was very tall at 6’. and could dunk the basketball when we played with him. William Oelschlager worked his way up with Duveen Brothers in New York City for almost 40-years. In fact, Lorraine’s interest in collecting art and antique’s was not only influenced by her mother Eleanor an art educator, but also her father-in-law William Oelschlager. William was then Vice President of Duveen Brothers in NYC, a prominent art and antique dealer with galleries in London, Paris and NYC in 1900’s to 1960’s. Duveen’s purchased many great European and Asian Art pieces in the London and Paris office, and sold them in the New York City 5th Avenue location to many “new millionaires” in the 1900-40’s. At the NYC semi-private gallery location, Duveen’s sold European Old Master paintings, sculptures, tapestries, furniture to rich American collectors such as J.P. Morgan, Rockefeller, Frick, Dodge, Kennedy, Andrew Melon as well as to museums. Andrew Melon eventually worked with Duveen’s to set up exhibits and furnish the National Gallery of Art (NGA) in Washington DC. Duveen’s name was connected to over 2,400 art pieces in the NGA. Lorraine’s father-in-law was instrumental in setting up the exhibits at the National Gallery of Art in the early 1940’s, living in DC for long periods. Dad and his Mom Elsie also visited William in Washington DC, and the photos of Dad in front of Capital are from 1940’s. The Washington Post on March 2, 1941 dedicated a full page to discuss the grand opening of the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC with Grandpa Will in one picture inspecting painting’s. Lorraine’s father-in-law also restored and sold art to Joan Payson in NYC, who later became the first woman to purchase a NA sports league, owning the New York Mets from 1962-1975. Through this connection, Lorraine and her family attended many New York Mets season and playoff games in 1969 and later. Lorraine was supportive of such family activities yelling “let’s go Mets” at games with her father-in-law, husband and children! Lorraine had a close relationship with her father-in-law William and mother-in-law Elsie who passed away in 1968. Lorraine’s children spent many holidays with William and Elsie at their home and a summer cabin her husband Richard and William built in Killingworth, Connecticut. William is fondly remembered for always leaving the grandchildren a “treasure map hunt”, when they arrived to the family cabin! Grandpa was always very generous to our family, and I have many pieces of furniture (bedroom set, China cabinet), lamps, Asian Art and Polynesian wood carvings that he introduced me to as a child and many pieces that he gave to me towards the end of his life. Photo of China Cabinet from William Oelschlager and some art pieces.

James Oelschlager 1982 & MOVE TO CONNECTICUT & HISTORY OF “CONNECTICUT CONNECTION”: Lorraine’s family connection to Connecticut dates back to Lorraine’s Aunt Marney’s father-in-law (Alexander “Pop” Lauer) having a farmhouse in Killingworth, Connecticut along with Aunt Marney and Uncle Carl also having their home in Killingworth. The Alexander “Pop” Lauer family welcomed other German families, such as Lorraine’s husbands family who were working and living in New York City. Richards grandparent’s we’re all born in Germany and were raised in a more rural area than NYC. Richard’s grandfather’s were both piano makers and wood craftsman in Germany, and were both working at Steinway & Son’s in Astoria New York. Lorraine’s husband’s family was eager to enjoy a “country atmosphere”, away from NYC “city life” when they had vacation time and on long-weekends in the 1940’s. At the same time, Lorraine’s mother, Eleanor, and father Laurim, would also rent a summer home in Killingworth, CT, while on the long summer break from teaching. This allowed Lorraine’s family to be near her mother’s sister Marney and husband Carl Lauer and their 2-son’s Ronald and Michael. Through this connection with the Lauer family “farmhouse”, and Lorraine’s parent’s “summer house rental”, Lorraine met her husband Richard. Richard was also an only-child, and his parents, had boarded several times a year at the Lauer farmhouse until the family built their own cabin in Killingworth, Connecticut in 1948-1949. At that time Richard’s father William had intended the cabin to be a temporary housing until they built a large home on the property. However, William’s wife Elsie was less eager to give up her NYC life, and they never built their dream home on the property. However, in 1982, Lorraine and her husband Richard relocated from New Jersey to reside in Killingworth, Connecticut to build their “dream home” on several acres of property that had been in her husband’s family since the 1940’s. This Connecticut home initially served as their “retirement home” from 1982 to 2009. The home was built on property that Lorraine’s father-in-law William Oelschlager left to Richard and Lorraine when he passed away in 1983. Prior to building their home on the property, they had a “weekend cabin” on the property that her husband Richard and father-in-law built on their own in the late 1940’s. Lorraine and her family spent many weekends and summer breaks in Killingworth, CT from the 1940’s to 2009 where her Aunt Marney, Uncle Carl, and nephews Ronald and Michael Lauer lived. Eventually Richard and his father added on to the original cabin, and also built screened-in porches for the scenic wooded Roast Meat Hill Road property, and re-roofed the cabin with Lorraine’s son’s Jim and Tom then helping with these cabin projects as they became handy with tools in 1960-70’s. Lorraine and family had many memorable weekends and summer vacations at the “Cabin”. While living in Connecticut part-time and then full-time, Lorraine and her family frequently enjoyed the beaches along the Connecticut coastline enjoying many State Parks (Hammonasset Beach, Cockaponset State Forest, Chatfield Hollow State Park, Mystic Seaport and Aquarium, etc.). The family also enjoyed many summer vacations in Cape Cod and along the New Jersey shore in the 1960’s to 1980’s. Lorraine and her husband enjoyed interacting with their children and grandchildren in Killingworth, CT, as well as interacting with Marney and Carl and their children. Marney and Carl Lauer had farm property in Killingworth CT where they bailed hay, raised chickens, sheep, peacock’s etc., as well as having a flower and vegetable garden. Additionally the Lauer family and later Richard and Carl had a share boat to fish in the Long Island sound. It was common for Lorraine and family to enjoy summer family picnic gatherings with the Lauer family, as well as catching fish and lobsters from the Long Island sound and then enjoying backyard cookouts with fresh picked corn and home grown vegetables from the Lauer gardens.

James Oelschlager Mom was not afraid to take off her nursing outfit to work on the house to help Dad and family with gardening and home renovations. These photos are from the family cabin and eventual house in Connecticut.

James Oelschlager When Mom and Dad moved to Connecticut their 20+ year neighbors in Waldwick, New Jersey, Claire and Fred Stubbe, threw a going away party for them. Fred Stubbe ran a advertising type agency at the time and he had his artist do a rendering of the house and gave that to Mom and Dad as a gift and you can see the excitement on mom‘s face when she opened it !

James Oelschlager Mom hosting Christmas at Killingworth, CT home in December 1991 with her Aunt Marney Lauer and her grandchildren Marty and Eric in first photo. The Christmas toast from left to right included Eric Lauer, Mao Lauer, Tom, Lorraine and Laura Oelschlager with her first child Derek Wiatrowski with father Ziggy, Jim Oelschlager and Ron, Carl, Marney, and Marty Lauer. Marty and Eric are the son’s of Ronald and Mao Lauer.

James Oelschlager MOM’s MOTHER, GRANDMA EL WITH HER ONLY LIVING DAVIS SIBLINGS: Grandma El’s brother “Charlie” Davis, Grandma Eleanor Horton, sister Marney Lauer with her husband Carl Lauer. Uncle Charlie escorted Mom at wedding since her father had died in 1950. Other photo includes Grandma in back row with Uncle Charlie and then Marney to the right of Grandpa Will and Grandma Elsie. Uncle Carl in 1955 is in photo with his son’s Michael and Ron throwing rice to the left of Mom and Dad coming down stairs !

James Oelschlager MOM & her mother GRANDMA EL with Jim visiting Cypress Gardens, a favorite event for us !

James Oelschlager Dad interacting with his grandchildren and children.

James Oelschlager Mom with her nephew Ronny and his family wife Mao and her sister and Ron and Mao’s children Eric and Edward, Marty not present in this one.

James Oelschlager Mom with her mother Eleanor Horton, AKA Grandma El on visit to Florida.

James Oelschlager Mom’s husband Richard, who we owe a lot of gratitude for all the wonderful photos he took of our family ! Thank you Dad !

James Oelschlager SUMMER LOBSTER FEST FOR BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION: Lobster Fest at Mom’s Killingworth, CT home, her Aunt Marney celebrated her birthday with Tom with both being born on July 21 ! In photo is Marney and Carl’s son Ronald, Tom’s wife Kathleen, Tom, Carl holding lobster and Mom’s Aunt Marney. Some additional photos of celebrations at the Oelschlager Deck at the Killingworth, CT home and a Lauer celebration at Carl and Marney yard for Ron’s son Edward Lauer !

James Oelschlager Mom hosted many memorable family dinners with her Aunt Marney and Uncle Carl and their children Ron and Michael Lauer’s families! Aunt Marney was also more than willing to join the boys when they all smoked their cigars !

James Oelschlager Mom’s mother Eleanor Horton with her sister Marney’s husband Carl Lauer and his son Michael Lauer at Mom and Dad’s home for barbecue.

James Oelschlager LORRAINE & LAUER FAMILY: Lorraine always enjoyed her time with her nephews Ronald and Michael Lauer, her Aunt Marney and Carl’s children. The photos span about 1954 to 2019 with Michael, Christine and Mom with Willem and I in Massachusetts. The first 6-photos include Ron and Michael when younger. Ronald and Michael are in older family toast photo standing in front as teenager’s with Mom, Grandma El, Grandpa Will and Mom’s Uncle Carl and Marney, Grandma Elsie and Grandma El teaching Michael and Ron how to pull taffy and then Enjoying the Connecticut Lobster feast is Grandma El, Marney and Ron and Michael and then Ron and his brother Michael were first in line at Mom and Dad’s wedding with several pounds of rice in the black and white wedding photo ! Growing up, Mom remembers Ronald’s father Carl serving in US Army in Europe during WWII in 1942-46 period and spending more time with Ronald (born 1944) and his mother Marney during this time and then with Michael (born in 1946). Mom described Marney and Ron living with her and Grandma El for a portion of the time when Carl was serving in Army. Ronald Lauer served in Vietnam and later married his wife Mao in 1970. Ron and Mao and their children Martin, Eric and Edward were frequently at the Lauer’s and Lorraine’s Killingworth, CT homes during the 1970’s-2000’s. Both homes became a “gathering place” on weekends and summer breaks, and the family had many good memories of family dinners. Mom and Dad always welcomed our friends, partners and families to their home and cabin growing up. Mom was always welcoming of new friendships, enjoyed learning about cultures and international foods as well as enjoying international travel to Europe, Scotland and Germany. It was common for Lorraine and her family to attend Chinese New Year parades in New York City as well as taking advantage of dining in Little Italy and Chinatown in NYC when the children were growing up. Ronald Lauer also served in the US Army and many specialty divisions and is in uniform in several photos and with his family.

James Oelschlager BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION FOR GRANDMA EL AND MOM’s UNCLE CARL at THANKSGIVING: Grandma El and Lorraine’s Uncle Carl Lauer, both celebrated their birthdays together. Carl Lauer was born on November 24 (1916) and Grandma El being born on November 26 (1904). Many celebrations of their birthdays included Thanksgiving dinners at either the Lauer’s home, OELSCHLAGER’S home and on occasion at Eleanor Horton’s home on 4-Troy Lane, Yonkers, NY including the photo of Grandpa Will carving the turkey at Grandma El’s Yonkers, NY home. Lorraine and her mother Eleanor and Aunt Marney were all very traditional in regards to setting a seasonal Thanksgiving table, with many dishes and placemats, that had been in the family for many years.

James Oelschlager Newport Dinner Train event for Mom and Dad, nice photo of them !

James Oelschlager Mom and Dad came down to Florida for Thanksgiving in 2004. Willem’s Mom Mary Charbonneau was one month away from giving birth to Willem James Oelschlager. Fall of 2004 was a difficult period, with Florida and Palm Bay Area being affected by 6-Hurricanes (Bonnie, Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne) in a 6-week duration with loss of power for 2-weeks. It was nice to be able to enjoy sitting out doors and having turkey dinner together !

James Oelschlager Mom and Laura came down to Florida shortly after Willem was born in February 2005. Willem developed a close relationship with Mom enjoying many trips and visits to Mom’s house with lots of activities as well as with Laura !

James Oelschlager MOM and DAD’s 50th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY FAMILY PHOTO: Event was in Connecticut in Summer 2006. In photo: Front row: Ron Sbordone, Mom’s granddaughter’s Tara and Krista Sbordone, Lorraine and Richard Oelschlager and back row: Grandson Derek Wiatrowski, daughter Laura Sbordone, grandson Matt Wiatrowski, son Thomas Oelschlager with wife Kathleen and grandson Daniel Oelschlager with Kathleen and son James Oelschlager with Willem’s mother Mary Charbonneau holding Lorraine’s grandson Willem Oelschlager.

James Oelschlager Christmas 2006 at Mom and Dad’s Killingworth, CT home with son Tom and Jim, daughter-in-law Kathleen and grandson Willem with Jim and Willem’s mom Mary Charbonneau. Lorraine and family had a rich tradition of decorating their house, and Christmas trees for the holidays and the white fireplace mantel is Lorraine‘s daughter Laura’s home. The last Christmas photos are from Willem and my tree last year with the traditional German “pickle” ornament !

James Oelschlager DAUGHTER LAURA’S CHILDREN WITH LORRAINE & FAMILY: Add narrative later

James Oelschlager Mom and Dad had a close relationship with Mom’s nephews Ronald and Michael Lauer. Ronald Lauer is in photo with his wife Carina Lauer at their wedding ceremony in 2011. The second photo (B/W) is Aunt Marney and Uncle Carl, Ron and Michael’s parents, at their wedding in 1942. In 2015, on our final trip to Connecticut for Dad, Ron and his brother Michael and his wife Christine Lauer met us at the old Lauer Farm in Killingworth, CT and we also enjoyed dinner together at the Griswold Inn in Essex, Connecticut. This was the last time Mom and Dad had an opportunity to visit with Ron face-to-face. Mom had many pleasant memories of the Lauer farm, where Carl’s father and mother originally lived in Killingworth,CT. As a child Mom and Grandma El frequently spent summers in this area of Connecticut, and much time with the Lauer family. As she reminisced about the house and good memories to her Grandson Willem she was excited with a big smile to tell Willem how the bureau with large mirror that they were standing in front of, was originally in their home in Yonkers, New York and was in her wedding photo from NY. Mom was very sentimental and remembered the history of every item she collected or was given over the years. Growing up Mom and grandma Eleanor Horton, we’re very close with Ron and Michael. Ron’s mother Marney, was Grandma El’s youngest sibling. As a result of their mother passing away at age 46 in 1930, Marney lived with Eleanor and then Mom (born 1931) from 1930 (Marney was 12-year’s old), until she married Carl Lauer at age 23. Carl served in the US Army from 1941-1946, and Ron was born in 1944 shortly before Carl was sent to serve in Europe during WWII. Mom and Grandma El forged even stronger bonds with Ron and Marney during this period. Mom had fond memories of Ron growing up, as well as while he attended College at the University of Cincinnati and Mom attended his graduation ceremonies. Of course Mom and Grandma El , returned with college shirts for our family to wear (in photo with me holding fish after fishing with Ron’s Dad Carl Lauer). Ron also served his country as Carl did in the US Army and in Vietnam during the war. Although this time-period was more stressful for Mom and Ron’s family, Ron served without significant injuries and met his first wife Mao while serving. Ron married his wife Mao and Mom and our family developed a close relationship with their children Marty, Eric and Edward. Ron later married Carina (in photo), after Mao had passed away following cancer. Dad enjoyed his photography when Ron and Michael were younger and some of the photo's look as clear as a recent digital photo ! Ron and brother Michael also we’re ready to throw rice at Mom and Dad’s wedding in 1955, with their Dad Carl Lauer in background.

James Oelschlager MOM a& DAD at SUN CITY HOME on June 7, 2011.

James Oelschlager GRANDSON DAN OELSCHLAGER’S GRADUATION

James Oelschlager Mom made sure we had pianos at our homes that the family could play. Dad and Mom both played piano as well as Grandpa Will. Additionally, both of Dad’s grandfathers came to America with “Piano Craftsman” listed for their profession and both worked at Steinway Piano in Astoria at one point. Astoria where Dad’s family initially lived was also known as Steinway Village, so that worker’s did not have far to travel to work. Photos include Grandpa Will with Laura, Tom playing with Lorraine’s grandson Danny, Grandson Matt Wiatrowski, son Tom, daughter Laura, granddaughter Krista, Grandpa Will at Piano with Tom playing Trumpet and Dad standing, Dad playing trombone in High School band in 1940’s, Dad playing piano and Grandpa Will singing with his brother and friend, grandson Willem playing piano and singing.

James Oelschlager THE IDOLLETTE’s at SUN CITY: Mom was a very sociable individual and when she moved to Sun Cityshe made friends quickly with neighbors etc.

James Oelschlager Visit to Mom and Dad’s in Sun City with her grandson Derek joining Son Tom and Jim, daughter Laura and grandson’s Derek Wiatrowski, Daniel Oelschlager and Willem Oelschlager as well as their final pet’s Chandler (Dad’s favorite) and Pumpkin (Mom’s favorite).

James Oelschlager Our trip with Dad and Mom to Connecticut in 2015, included dinner with Ronny and Michael Lauer who Mom was very close to since childhood. Ronny and Michael were the children of Marney Davis, Mom’s mother’s sister who later married Carl Lauer. Carl served in the Army during WWII and Marney’s son Ronny was born at about the same time and Mom and Grandma El spent a lot of time together “bonding” during this period. Ronny and Michael can also be seen in the black and white wedding photo, throwing rice at Mom and Dad, before the t was banned from weddings ! On our vacation

James Oelschlager EVERGREEN CEMETERY KILLINGWORTH, CT: Because of the strong sentimental attachment to Connecticut, Mom and Dad took a family trip with my son Willem and I in July 2015. Willem and I flew up with Mom and Dad from Savannah Airport, and we all enjoyed this 1-week vacation in CT together. Dad at that point, was beginning to struggle with memory and mobility as well as having recently been treated for cancer, and Mom wanted him to see the Connecticut area one last time. They both had fond memories of the area going back to childhood. During the July 2015 trip, we also paid respects to Mom’s mother, Eleanor Horton’s gravestone. Eleanor’s sister, Marney and husband Carl, are also laid to rest at “Evergreen Cemetery” in Killingworth, CT. This is the cemetery where Mom and Dad’s cremation ashes will be rested this fall (2022), along with cremation remains from their dogs Pumpkin and Chandler. The attractive stonewall’s throughout the Killingworth area were always enjoyed by Mom and Dad and the house now painted yellow after they sold the home in 2009, is the house they built in 1982, on family property from the 1940’s, located on Roast Meat Hill Road in Killingworth, CT.

James Oelschlager Mom traveled to Connecticut with Dad, grandson Willem and I in July 2015. This July 2015 trip would be Dad’s final trip to Connecticut, as his health was failing at that point. Dad, Mom and Willem and I enjoyed site-seeing, as well as visiting with Laura and her family in Cheshire CT. This trip included enjoying Laura’s garden’s, cooking and family including Mom’s grandchildren Tara, Derek, Krista and Laura and husband Ron Sbordone. We also took in many memorable locations in CT including the Griswold Inn in Essex, Lenny and Joe’s Fishtale in Madison, as well as several state parks such as Hamonassett State Beach in Madison. We also spent time with the Lauer family (Ron, Michael and Christine) at the Griswold Inn in Essex, CT as well as visiting the old “Lauer Farmhouse” in Killingworth. This was the area that Dad’s parents and he had boarded at over summers when Dad was a child. Through this exposure Dad and family developed a deep love for that area, eventually buying property to build a cabin on Killingworth, Connecticut property in the late 1940’s. We also visited the cemetery where Grandma El was buried and visited the historic church that Mom attended when they were living in Killingworth, CT.

James Oelschlager SURPRISE, LORRAINE HAS A “GENETIC MATCH RELATIVE” SHE NEVER MET: Lorraine frequently wished that she had not been an only child growing up. She harbored suspicion that her father who passed away in 1950 when she was 19, may have had additional children, specifically a son who would have been her half-brother. Ironically, someone else who was researching her Horton family history, also suspected that her grandfather may have had a second family. Denise Horton began researching her grandfather, whom she had never met. In the process of researching Laurim Horton, she stumbled across a wedding announcement for Lorraine Horton in Yonkers, NY newspaper that references Laurim Horton being Mom’s father although he had passed away in a MVA in 1950 before the wedding occurred. Laurim’s granddaughter Denise, researched that Mom had moved to Bluffton, South Carolina and located Mom’s phone number, in the hopes of contacting Mom to discuss her grandfather with her. In discussing this development, Denise said that “fortunately your Mom was willing to take my call, and we were able to quickly piece together our shared family history”. Denise said “prior to that, the only thing I had ever known about Laurim Horton was that he had red hair, blue eyes, and he left my Grandmother with two young children to raise in 1929”. Denise said she was told that it was not uncommon for men to leave families for work during the Great Depression, then never come back. Denise and Mom eventually did the Ancestry DNA test, and the results confirmed their genetic relation. Mom was excited to learn that she had a half-brother (John Horton, son of Laurim “Larry” Horton) who had two daughters, and to connect with Denise Horton. Although Mom’s half-brother had passed away by 2013, Mom was excited to have connected with his daughter. They maintained email and phone contact, before their first meeting. Mom and Dad welcomed Denise into their home in Sun City, SC for a couple of weeks over Christmas Holiday in 2015. Lorraine wanted Denise to meet her family, after having questions for many years about her father possibly having a family before she was born during the depression years. Denise traveled to Sun City in December 2015 and spent Christmas with the Oelschlager’s. Mom experienced great enjoyment sharing her stories with Denise of her mother Eleanor and father Larry (Denise’s grandfather). She also greatly enjoyed sharing this newly discovered relative on her father’s side with her friends and family. Photo #1: Denise Horton in photos with Mom and Dad, #2: then family photo with Dad, grandson Danny, Lorraine, grandson Willem, Denise Horton, and son’s Tom and Jim Oelschlager, #3 Denise with Willem Christmas 2015, #4: Denise with Mom, #5: Black and White photo is Mom’s Dad, Laurim Horton, and grandma, #6 Eleanor Horton and nephew Michael Lauer in photo. Photo #7 is Laurim Horton’s son, John Horton in his military uniform during the Korean War time period and #8 is photo of Denise with her grandfather on right, notice the resemblance? #9 & 10 Is photo of Denise’s grandmother Mona Stuart Horton or Laurim’s first family and #11 is Mom’s half-brother John Horton, who she never met with his 2-daughters Monique and Denise Horton and #12 is Denise’s father again John Horton.

James Oelschlager “CHRISTMAS VILLAGE” AT THE OELSCHLAGER’S: Lorraine enjoyed decorating her home for the holidays whether it be “Fall is Coming, Christmas, Thanksgiving or Easter. She had many sentimental pieces related to holiday themes, some made by her mother Eleanor as an art teacher, some with the children. She especially enjoyed setting up her Christmas Village each November to February and arranging many collectible skaters, skiers and and the many buildings that made up her Christmas Village. Lorraine’s grandson Willem became a hard working partner in setting up Grandma’s Christmas village each year from age 5 to 17, most recently Christmas 2021. In fact the village, and number of skaters etc., seemed to grow each year with Grandma receiving antique additions each year as a stocking stuffer gift. Willem and his grandmother Lorraine, in several pictures and Willem and Lorraine’s son Tom in one photo with Lorraine and Willem.

James Oelschlager Fun trip to Mom’s friend Carole Mullins home in Sun City. Carole and Mom were very similar in that they both loved to collect things and both worked hard to have the most items on display for the holiday’s !

James Oelschlager Nice Christmas at Mom‘s house in Sun City in December 2016! This year Mom and Dad’s grandson Matt Wiatrowski was able to join us along with her son’s Tom, Jim and grandson Willem and daughter Laura. The family had a fun game of kickball after dinner, and Laura insisted on sweeping all the acorns from Sanders Ct. so that there were no slip-fall accidents !

James Oelschlager Mom with her neighbor and good friend Mary Watson’s Mom, “Virginia”. Mom regularity played cards with Mary and her Mom as well as Mary’s significant other Al. Mom also shared her love of collecting doll’s with Mary and her mother Virginia.

James Oelschlager DOGS & CATS AT THE OELSCHLAGER HOME: Lorraine and her husband Richard loved dogs and probably owned over a dozen combined in their lifetime. Lorraine also liked cat’s and we had 4-5 cat’s growing up. Most of the cats got along fine with the dogs until their Greyhound Duke in Killingworth, CT thought Grandma El’s cat “Ginger” was a rabbit at the dog track. The cat was never seen again, and some family tension was evident! Many of the older photos of our pets growing up were taken by Dad who was very skilled with a camera and he left us with many wonderful photos documenting our childhood. Some of the German shorthair dogs swimming in the pond are from the Lauer family. Dad won a photo award for that “German Short Hair Stick” photo, at a New Jersey camera club. Mom and Dad’s last 2-dogs, Chandler and Pumpkin were adopted from Maranatha Farms in Ridgeland, SC.

Matthew Wiatrowski Lorraine's grandson Matt and his future wife Grace, visiting "Nanny" in South Carolina

James Oelschlager Hospice of the Low Country remembrance ceremony for Richard Oelschlager who passed away in February 2017. In attendance son Tom with Mom, wife Kathleen and Jim’s son Willem Oelschlager. Then several photos from 1950-early 1960’s, including Richard Oelschlager operating outboard motor boat fishing off the Long Island Sound in the Clinton area, seated with wife Lorraine, Richard gardening at the “Cabin” in Killingworth, CT, and sitting with son Jim and his father William Oelschlager seated with grandson Thomas.

James Oelschlager Mom with her grandson Dan Oelschlager for her 87th birthday celebration !

James Oelschlager Mother’s Day at Hilton Head Jazz Corner, May 2018 with Lorraine, daughter-in-law Kathleen and children Thomas Oelschlager, Laura Sbordone and Jim Oelschlager. Lorraine and family enjoyed a Nat King Cole celebration at the Hilton Head Jazz Club

James Oelschlager Lorraine with son Jim at Mother’s Day “Unforgettable: Nat King Cole Tribute” at the Jazz Corner in Hilton Head, South Carolina in May 2018. Lorraine joined all her children as well as her daughter-in-law Kathleen Oelschlager for this dinner show.

James Oelschlager Lorraine with son, Tom, at Lowcountry Wind Symphony concert where he played Trumpet

James Oelschlager Mom was excited to attend her Grandson Matt Wiatrowski’s wedding In Pennsylvania in November 2018. Matt’s wife Grace Wiatrowski also had a nursing background similar to Mom’s, and Mom enjoyed getting to know Grace and was excited that Matt was marrying a fellow nurse ! Mom also enjoyed the opportunity to visit with her Aunt and Uncle’s children Marty, Eric and Edward Lauer and their families at the wedding. Additionally, Mom and Laura’s mother-in-law Rosemary Sbordone enjoyed the opportunity to visit during the wedding. Mom and her grandson Willem and son Jim shared a hotel room and enjoyed the weekend together in Willowbrook area of Pennsylvania. Large family photo included the Lauer’s, Oelschlager’s, Wiatrowski’s and the Sbordone family !

James Oelschlager MOM WAS ALWAYS FASHIONABLE & WELL COORDINATED WITH HER COLORS, FROM BEGINNING TO THE END ! AND SHE WAS NOT OPPOSED TO HAVING SOME FUN, WITH HER OUTFITS! It was common for Grandma El to make many of the outfits for Mom in the 1930-1960’s, as well as Grandma El making many for her grandchldren. The photo with Tom, Laura and I lining up for the photo, following Mom’s direction, our shirts and Laura’s dress were all handmade for us by Grandma El ! The outfit Laura is wearing as she smells the tulips was also an outfit made for Laura by El for Easter. In fact many of Laura and Mom’s Easter and Christmas wardrobes were made by Grandma El. It was also a strong family tradition that Lorraine and Richard generally got dressed up for the holiday’s. Richard’s family, William and Elsie, had a strong German tradition of generally being well-dressed for family gathering’s. Even the photo of Mom topping off her car radiator with what looks like a bottle of beer, she is well dressed for the Kodak moment ! Mom also had some fun with her outfit’s for some holiday’s likeHalloween and St. Patrick’s Day.

James Oelschlager Boat’s and boating in New England was a significant hobby and activity for Dad and Mom growing up and then as a family activity as we got older. Dad initially enjoyed fishing in the Long Island sound from the New York side as well as Connecticut shoreline in Clinton and Old Saybrook area. Dad and Mom’s Uncle Carl, had a boat in the Clinton Marina in Connecticut, and we regularly fished for flounder, bluefish, as well as pulled up lobster traps and sometimes swam in the Long Island Sound at Meg’s point. Tom also became a boat owner from his early 20’s, starting with a “Sailfish”, then a larger sailboat they took out on the Hudson River in New York, and eventually a fishing boat in Beaufort, South Carolina or the picturesque Low Country area of SC. Tom recently sold his boat, and commented that the greatest day for boat owners is the day they buy the boat, and the day they sell it ! Tom is with his boat and family in some photos with wife Kathleen and son Danny and with Laura and husband Ron Sbordone and daughter Tara in one photo. Additionally, Tom transported his boat to Cape Cod in about 2019 and Tom, Dan, Kathleen’s brother Billy, Willem and I enjoyed fishing and swimming off the Cape. On our last trip in 2021, Tom also rented a sailboat and we learned some sailing skills in a lake in the Cape Cod area. Mom was always a good sport fishing with Dad and family from when they first met and started dating. Mom would always make sure we had lunch for the boat trip, making us “hoagies” when we went to South New Jersey, then “grinders” when living in Connecticut and “heroes” when we docked from New York ! Mom and Dad went out for their last boat ride on Tom‘s boat in Beufort, South Carolina in about 2012. Dad and I also went on several canoe trips together in the Boy Scouts, one a more challenging 50-miler down the Delaware River with some strong rapids. Tom is also in one photo with his childhood friend from Troop 88, Neil Andre. Dad had an appreciation for taking photos of boats and won several photo competitions in New Haven Photography club for the last 2-photos taken in the winter, included here. Additionally, Willem and I have also enjoyed taking photos of boats in Beaufort, SC and Cape Cod area. Additionally, Rockport Motif #1 at Rockport, Massachusetts (famous red fishing shack) was our final New England trip with Mom. Mom and I spent our last day their traveling to Rockport, Massachusetts to explore the Rockport Art Association and enjoy the sites of the area and then have dinner with her nephew Michael Lauer and wife Christine Lauer.

James Oelschlager Dinner at Mom’s with Grandson’s Danny and Willem before we flew up to Connecticut then Cape Cod.

James Oelschlager Nice trip to visit the mansion’s in Newport Rhode Island on our July 2019 trip.

James Oelschlager MOM’S FINAL TRIP TO NEW ENGLAND was in July 2019. COVID restrictions limited travel in 2020 to 2021. Nice time visiting Laura and family in Connecticut as well as Tom and family in Cape Cod. Mom and I took our first trip to Rockport Massachusetts and enjoyed the Rocky coastline as well as Rockport Art Association and Yale Art Museum.

James Oelschlager RETURNING FROM NEW ENGLAND JULY 2019 TRIP TO CT & CAPE COD: Nice vacation with last 2-days at Rockport, Massachusetts with dinner with Mom’s nephew Michael Lauer and his wife Christine Lauer.

James Oelschlager Lorraine OELSCHLAGER’S mother’s side of the family the Davis family may have been gifted with the longevity gene ! Lorraine’s mother Eleanor lived to 95 years old and her sister Marney also lived into her 80’s. Lorraine’s husband’s family also may have the longevity gene, with her husband living to 88, his father William Oelschlager 79 and Lorraine’s husbands mothers family living into their late 80’s. Additionally, Lorraine’s husband Richard’s grandfather, who he never met was born in 1852 and lived until 1926, turning 74. Those were some good German genes to live that long !

James Oelschlager Mom’s 90th Birthday 2021 with family. Son’s Tom, Jim, grandson Willem and daughter-in-law Kathleen.

James Oelschlager MOM HITS 90 in January 2020 ! Her neighbors in Sun City made sure she knew how much love and admiration they had for her by setting up many celebration’s. In fact, her neighbors and friends in Sun City including Mary, Carole, Eriko, Flo, Bob/Beth, Bill/Janine, Sue and others helped Lorraine celebrate her 90th birthday in January 2021. The 90th birthday celebrations included a front yard decorated with birthday themed items, a barbershop quartet greeting her at her front door, golf cart parade at the house and another birthday celebration at her friend Carole’s house. The menu from her 90th-Birthday Luncheon at Carole Mullins home is attached I photo at end.

James Oelschlager CHRISTMAS AT LORRAINE’S OVER THE YEARS: Christmas time at the Oelschlager’s had many traditional decorations and meals influenced by Lorraine and her mother Eleanor. Dad also had many traditions coming from his German background, and Lorraine continued to treasure and display ornaments from her husband’s family that we’re handmade in Germany till the end. Dad, AKA Richard also came from a family where his grandfather’s were both German immigrants who came to America as “Piano Maker” on the Ellis Island paperwork. Both grandfather’s worked at Steinway Piano in Astoria, and this accounts for Lorraine’s husband Richard being raised in that area of New York City, later called “Steinway Village”. Richard’s mother Elsie’s father Mathias Heizman was known to buy two Christmas trees each year, and then utilize his skills as a wood craftsman to create a perfect tree. This involved using the least desirable “Charlie Brown “ tree to remove healthy branches and implanting them into the “master tree” essentially merging the two trees. The family always took great pride in trying to create their own “Rockefeller Center” holiday tree each year. It’s no wonder that Lorraine and Richard’s oldest son, Tom, lectured Laura and I as a child, that each piece of tinsel had to be carefully placed one strand at a time or our tree would be ruined! Family picture next to tree is Lorraine with grandson Willem, daughter Laura and husband Richard with Pumpkin, Mom’s final dog. Then grandson’s Matt, Willem and daughter Laura decorating tree and family picture with grandson Willem, son’s Tom and Jim, grandson Matt, daughter Laura, Lorraine and husband Richard again with Pumpkin. Remaining pictures are Christmas scenes from 1950’s to 1960’s. The black and white photo is great-grandpa Mathias Heizman, the piano maker who also crafted Christmas trees for his home. Last photo, is Dad placing the final ornament on the tree, the sentimental tree topper from Germany at their house in Killingworth, CT. And photo with the miniature hotdog’s roasting on the stereo’s, a family tradition for years includes 2-grandparent’s, Grandpa Will and Grandma El with Laura and I. Mom did a great job of hosting holiday event’s and as far as I remember all the in-laws were extremely close ! Grandpa Will and Grandma Elsie visited Eleanor in Florida after he retired from Duveen’s in 1967.

James Oelschlager Mom and Dad were always very engaged with all of their grandchildren, as well as with their children. They traveled to Florida many times to support Willem’s school activities including Chorus concerts and even registering him for kindergarten because I was unavailable. Mom and Dad also attended many activities of their grandchildren Matt, Derek, Danny and Krista and Tara in Connecticut and then in Beaufort, SC to see Dan’s swim meets.

James Oelschlager Lorraine with her friend Carole Mullins, they both celebrated their birthday’s in January at a friends house. Carole hosted a birthday celebration for Mom’s 90th in 2020.

Laura Sbordone Dropped by for a quick visit with mom while vacationing in Kiawah❤️

James Oelschlager Mom had a great love of flowers including houseplants such as violet’s, as well as flowers in her outside garden’s in NY, CT and SC. Dad also enjoyed outside gardening and the couple always had some pretty flowers to enjoy. Mom also enjoyed raising violets from leaf cuttings and donated them to her church fairs once they were grown to help raise funds for the organization.

James Oelschlager THANKSGIVING 2021: Mom’s house in Sun City. Wonderful Thanksgiving dinner prepared by Mom and Kathleen nice opportunity to be with family including Lorraine’s son Tom, daughter-in-law Kathleen, grandson’s Dan and Willem and son Jim. Thanksgiving was the traditional time to set up Mom’s Christmas Village that was always a fun project for Mom, Willem and Jim. Mom typically kept her festive Christmas Village up until February.

James Oelschlager Mom with her Suncity neighbor Janine Maly. Janine and her husband Bill frequently came to visit Mom and bring her flowers for her table that she always enjoyed. This photo Christmas 2021.

James Oelschlager Mom celebrating Christmas 2021 with her Sun City neighbors and friends Mary Watson, and long-term partner Al Aspray.

James Oelschlager VISIT FROM LAURA’S CHILDHOOD FRIEND:Prior to the visit with her great-grandchild and Matt and Grace, Lorraine in March this year also had a surprise and enjoyable visit with her daughter Laura’s childhood friend, and New Jersey neighbor Janice Okoniewski, along with her husband David in February 2022. David also was friends with Tom and Jim in childhood, they were all in the Boy Scouts together and Dave like Tom played the trumpet. Eventually Dave and Tom were in a drum and bugle corp together in Hawthorne New Jersey the “Muchachos”. They toured throughout the East Coast for competitions and Lorraine and her husband Richard and Jim and Laura and grandparents attended their competitions. Lorraine was a remarkable mother, grandmother and friend for many, and she will be greatly missed by her family and friends.

James Oelschlager LORRAINE MEETS HER GREAT-GRANDCHILD ELLE IN APRIL 2022: Lorraine was eager to meet her new great-granddaughter Elle “Lorraine” Wiatrowski after she was born in 2021. She was excited to hear that Matt and his family were coming to visit her while she was at Sprenger Healthcare in Port Royal South Carolina in April 2022. IN PHOTO: #1: Lorraine with her Grandson Matt Wiatrowski, wife Grace and their daughter and Lorraine’s great-granddaughter Elle “Lorraine” Wiatrowski and Lorraine’s daughter Laura Sbordone. #2: Lorraine with her grandson great-granddaughter Elle “Lorraine”, Grace, daughter Laura and grandson Matt Wiatrowski, #3: Grace, Elle “Lorraine”, grandson Matt, son-in-law Ron Sbordone, and back row grandson Willem and son Jim Oelschlager and daughter Laura Sbordone, #4: Grandson Matt, Lorraine, son-in-law Ron Sbordone, backrow grandson Willem, Lorraine’s son Jim and daughter Laura.

Matthew Wiatrowski More pictures from Nanny's visit with her great-granddaughter Elle Lorraine

Willem Oelschlager Good memories of picking Daffodils for Grandma and Grandpa, with Aunt Laura and Uncle Tom on February 11, 2017. Grandma and Grandpa were both at NHC for Rehabilitation and it brought a smile to grandma and grandpa, and brightened up their room.

Willem Oelschlager LOVE FROM WILLEM: I always enjoyed my time with Nanny and the memories that we have both shared. It was always a pleasure to spend time with her doing fun activities and helping, such as playing card games, cooking, attending the bi-annual Sun City Yard Sale event, or even shopping. We took many memorable trips to visit Aunt Laura, and Uncle Tom and Aunt Kathleen, in New England, including with Grandpa before he passed away in 2017. We enjoyed museum’s, estate sales, graduations, Connecticut pizza and enjoyed exploring model homes at “Margaritaville” in Hardeville, SC, and watching the home channel shows. She always made it a goal to teach me about everyday life and how to live it well. I know that because of the knowledge and love that she shared with me, I will be able to live my life courageously and happily. I will miss our time together. Love, Willem

James Oelschlager St. Patrick’s Cathedral photo “Heavenly View” by her husband Richard Oelschlager in 1950. Mom always enjoyed this photo and the church in NYC. Dad submitted the photo in a contest “This is New York” in a William Randolph Hearst newspaper “New York Journal-American” in March of 1950. At the time he was working as a cameraman at NBC studios at Rockefeller Center (RFC) and he took the photo from the top of the RFC.