Loraine Bruni

Loraine is survived in life by her two loving sons Butch (wife Kim) and David (wife Beth Ann), and five grandchildren Jason (wife Jamie), Jennifer (husband Joe), Steven, Avery, and Tayler, and six great grandchildren Ariana, Chance, Blake, JJ, Sarah, and Ethan, and four great great grandchildren, Addison, Zoey, Raiden and Asher. Loraine was preceded in death by her parents, seven siblings, and loving husband Bill.

Loraine was born to her parents Howard and Bessie Turner who built a large Irish family of eight children in Peekskill, NY. Loraine was the 2nd youngest and closest throughout her life to her sister Grace. Loraine met and fell in love with Emidio Bruni at a roller rink one night. Bill, from a large Italian family… asked “Rainy” for a date but she refused to accept his offer until he had come home to meet her family. Bill met with their approval and Loraine soon fell in love. Emidio’s nickname at the time was a very Italian “Meats.” Loraine loved everything about him but not that nickname so she made everyone start calling him “Bill” notwithstanding the fact that he already had a younger brother named Bill… she knew what she wanted, and she knew how to get it! “Bill and Rainy” were married on June 3, 1951. Soon after Bill enlisted in the United States Navy and he and Loraine went to live on the Naval base in Rhode Island for a short while.

Loraine and Bill have two sons who they raised in Ossining and later Mahopac, NY and enjoyed their many friends and family in the area. Loraine raised her sons while also working at a local diner with her sister Ann. She soon began her lifelong career of babysitting where she often took her youngest son David to work with her. Later she would work at Guidepost where again David would go to work with her only this time as her co-worker. Once the boys were older, Rainy could often be found riding on the back of Bill’s new motorcycle. Eventually, Loraine and Bill moved to Phoenix in 1978 where she continued to work as a babysitter. Loraine was a kid at heart and loved entertaining the children she cared for who were like family to her and Bill. As a babysitter she clearly left lifelong imprints on the kids, a testament to which is the fact that Pam, Ally and Matthew have kept in touch with her through all of her years.

When Loraine finally retired – in her 80s – she remained busy with her hobbies of reading, solving word puzzles, and forever crocheting those elaborate granny square quilts. She also loved playing the slot machines and going out to play Bingo with her sister-in-law Sue. She also began riding shotgun for many of Bill’s endeavors, though this time in a big red truck rather than the motorcycle. It was funny to all of us that whenever we mentioned that red truck, she would immediately remind us that she hated the color red! The two of them loved the desert and would head out early every Sunday morning to pick up golf balls. Loraine was the spotter and Bill would hike out to pick them up. There were harrowing stories of snake encounters and fending off coyotes by throwing rocks at them… but none of this stopped the duo from their enterprising trips into the desert. “Hardworking and industrious,” these are the words that best describe this endearing pair.

Most recently Loraine was residing in an independent senior living facility in Surprise where she made many friends and enjoyed many activities such as daily games, the Wednesday poker game, and most of all the weekly Happy Hour. She always said, “they keep us pretty busy here!” She was an entertaining, unpredictable, and “spicey” presence in her senior community, just as she had been everywhere she went in life. Rainy was always quick to make you laugh, always angling for a dollar (tip) for any compliment she gave, and always trying to pry out a little more wine for her glass. Our hearts are broken, and we miss her so much already. The only comfort is knowing how glad Dad is to have her back in his arms.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on April 29 at Surprise Funeral Care located at 16063 W Bell Rd at 11 AM. Loraine’s friends and neighbors are encouraged to join the family for the service and continue the celebration at Portofino West located at 12851 W Bell Rd starting at 12:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers: The family requests support for the Alzheimer’s Association. http://act.alz.org/goto/Rainy_Bruni

Love leaves behind more than death can ever take away.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.surprisefuneralcare.com for the Bruni family.