Lorraine Claire Damiens Rantz

Lorraine Claire Damiens Rantz returned to God, our Creator, on April 24, 2025. She made her goal...100 years old! The world lost a strong woman: chemist, teacher, school counselor, seamstress extraordinaire, amazing chef, traveler, pianist, and competitive bridge player. She was an artist in so many ways: sewing, crocheting, turning plastic canvases into pictures - all usually without a pattern. Lorraine was a teacher in every way lovingly sharing her many talents with us all. She was Mawsy: mom, grandmother, great grandmother, and family matriarch.

Born September 4, 1924 at her maternal grandparents’ home in Jeanerette, Louisiana, Lorraine was the eldest and only girl of five siblings. She joins her mother, Adrienne Andre Damiens; her father, Lt. Colonel Joseph George Damiens, USAF; her four brothers, George Jr., Andre, Donald, and Marcel; her husband, Charles Rantz Jr.; her son-in-law, Ernie Cobden; and countless other family and friends in eternal life. She is survived by her three daughters Adrienne Keller (Woody Cumbo); Marianne Cobden (Ernie); Patty Glaser (Glen); a host of beloved grandchildren and their spouses; her many treasured great-grandchildren; numerous adoring nieces, nephews, cousins, and other extended family.

Lorraine was 20 years old when she graduated from Dominican College with a degree in chemistry in 1944. She immediately started work as a chemist at Coca-Cola in New Orleans, where she worked until 1947. In 1958 she was asked to join the faculty of St. Leo the Great elementary school. Several years later, she joined the faculty of St. James Major high school, teaching chemistry, biology, general science, and comparative religion. She returned to university in the 1970s, while still teaching, earned a Masters degree in school counseling from Loyola University New Orleans, and worked as a guidance counselor at St. James Major for many more years. In retirement Lorraine lived in Carriere, Mississippi, and Charlottesville, Virginia.

Until just weeks before her death, Lorraine loved crocheting and crafts, politics and puzzles, playing bridge, wineries, and a good party. Her Catholic faith was always the bedrock of her life.

What a lady…what a life!

The family is very grateful for the loving support provided by Our Lady of Peace Retirement Center and Hospice of the Piedmont.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the memorial Mass in the chapel of Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. in New Orleans, on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 11:00AM. A visitation will be held at the funeral home beginning at 9:30AM. The interment will follow the Mass in Metairie Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in Lorraine Claire’s honor be made to Discovery Schools (https://www.discoveryhsf.org/page/friends), Hospice of the Piedmont (https://hopva.org/donate-online-now/), or a charity of your choice.