Lorraine Maxwell

CHESHIRE - Lorraine Maxwell entered eternal rest on February 11, 2023. She will be missed by all who knew her. Lorraine was born in Dickson City, PA, the fifth daughter of Daniel and Christine Kowalchik. After graduating from high school, she enrolled in the Nursing School at Temple University and received her RN Certification. She worked in Philadelphia for a couple of years before accepting a position at the West Haven VA Hospital. It was here that she met her future husband, Tom Maxwell. They were married on October 3, 1964.

Lorraine was a dedicated nurse who put the welfare of her patients as her top priority. She spent 36 years as an RN, and also worked at Yale-New Haven Hospital, St. Raphael's, Gaylord, and Whitney Center. They had a son, Tom Jr., the light of their life, who prematurely passed away at age 49. Tom called his mom prior to his graduation from Drew University to say that he was being inducted into the Drew University Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa upon his Graduation as Summa Cum Laude. It was the proudest moment as a mother for her.

Being raised by a loving family she had a host of friends that she met as a nurse, as well as any one she met for the first time. She loved to travel and spent many vacations in Florida, South Carolina and Annapolis, Maryland, as well as Hawaii.

Upon his retirement from SNET her husband became the CT Area Coordinator (AC) for the U.S. Naval Academy Admissions Office, and she attended the conferences with him, and met the wives of other State ACs, the Superintendent, and some of her husband's candidates who received appointments.

While on a vacation in Florida some years ago she was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and thus began many years of chemotherapy treatment. She licked lymphoma, but at a physically draining price. Her indomitable spirit refused to quit, and she willed herself to continue as best as she could to enjoy her life. She, and her husband, were inseparable and went everywhere together. Her husband lovingly referred to her as his 'gold nugget', and he was her 'Pookie'. As the years went on, she increasingly felt the effects of her bouts with chemotherapy by not being able to travel. She was sustained by many calls from her extended family, as well as visits from them, lifelong friends, and the doting care of her 'Pookie'.

On February 11th the Lord said 'Lorraine, it's time to come home'. She will be terribly missed by her Pookie, until one day when they will meet again.

Honey, may you have Fair Winds and Following Seas.

Arrangements: A Memorial Service for Mrs. Maxwell will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2023 at 1:00 P.M. at The Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Cheshire, 615 South Main Street. Please come and share your memories of Loraine.  Burial will be held at the convenience of her family.