Mrs. Lorraine Antoinette Theobald Nowak

Lorraine Antoinette Theobald was born at St.Francis Hospital in New Castle, Pennsylvania, on March 10, 1930. Her parents, Ulderico (Harry) Theobald and Maria Bosco Theobald, had immigrated to the United States from the Abruzzi and San Arsenio, Italy, respectively.

Lorraine attended public schools in New Castle and graduated from New Castle High School with high honors. She worked as a secretary for New Castle Power and Light before and shortly after marrying Walter Nowak of Carnegie, Pennsylvania, in 1954.

They moved to Butler after their daughter Lisa was born in 1955. In 1959 the family moved to Milwaukee, when Walt took a job as an engineer with AC Electronics. Lorraine became active at St. Sebastian Catholic Church with the St.Coletta Circle and school volunteering and established friendships that lasted for the next 58 years until her death.

In December 1967 the family relocated to Indianapolis, where Walt was transferred to Allison Division of General Motors. Lorraine once again volunteered at church and school. Their daughter Sara was born in 1969 at St. Vincent Hospital. During Sara's school years Lorraine volunteered at both Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and School and Chatard High School.

Lorraine enjoyed visiting family in Pennsylvania and the Midwest. After Walt's retirement they travelled more frequently to visit Lisa's family in Lawrence, Kansas, Memphis Tennessee, and Columbia, Missouri. When Lisa's family moved to Florida in 2003 they began a pattern of spending the month of March in Crescent Beach, where they saw not only their Florida grandchildren but also travelled with Sara and welcomed her son in 2006. Those visits and extended family stays at South Carolina beaches were highlights of their retirement years. They also volunteered at St. Vincent de Paul and Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.

They made two international trips of note. In 2002 they travelled to London, were Lisa's family was spending the spring semester. And in 2012 they did a Mediterranean cruise to fulfill a lifelong dream to visit Italy and see the Vatican.

In 2015 Lorraine made a significant gift in Walt's memory to the Society of St.Vincent de Paul, which provided anchor funds for the Mission 27 Store in Indianapolis. She participated in the opening festivities and dedication of the store in October 2016 and, to her delight and honor, met Cardinal Tobin at the blessing.

After Walt's death in November 2014, Lorraine moved to assisted living, and she spent her last year at the Forum at the Crossing, until she took ill in July 2017 and her daughters moved her to Brookdale Burr Ridge to be close to Sara in Chicago's western suburbs. She lived at Brookdale until her death on January 3, 2018.

Lorraine was an excellent cook and baker, a wonderful hostess, a loving wife, and a doting grandmother. She is survived by Lisa Nowak Jerry and Robert Jerry (Columbia, Missouri) and Sara Nowak Emmick and Joseph Emmick (Western Springs, Illinois) and grandchildren John Jerry (Portland, Oregon), James Jerry (Naples, Florida), Beth Jerry (Miami, Florida), and William Emmick (Western Springs).

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Mission 27 of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Indianapolis, or Seasons Hospice.