L. Lorraine Rogers

Binghamton: L. Lorraine Rogers, 85, passed away peacefully on November 20, 2011 at Good Shepherd Village at Endwell. She was predeceased by her husband, John P. Rogers; her parents, Ralph and Lillian Gardner; her sister and brother-in-law, Geraldine and Charles Bruce; her brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Agnes Gardner; and her brother, Ralph, when he was only 22 years old. She is survived by her children, John and Jaye Rogers of Chelmsford, MA, Kathy Corey Botting of Binghamton, Robert and Barbara Rogers of Marietta, NY, Martin and Patti Jo Rogers of Brentwood, TN; her grandchildren, Johnny, Michael, and Billy Rogers, Scott, Josh, and Geoffery Corey, Robby and Lindsay Rogers, Joseph, Dominic, Peter, Ohure, Omot, and Obang, Trevor and Misa Rogers; brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Claudia Rogers; and her sister-in-law, Martha Rogers; and many nieces and nephews. Lorraine attended St. Ursula's High School in Kingston, NY, where she was elected class president all four years and demonstrated her beautiful singing voice and other talents in the drama club. After high school, she attended Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, PA, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1949. It was during her third year of college that Lorraine lost her sight, but she continued to work hard and acquired a position as a home teacher with the New York State Commission for the Blind in Binghamton. It was during this time she met her husband, John and they were married in 1952. Being sightless was not a deterrent for Lorraine, as she went on to raise four children, answering the telephone, taking messages, and being a strong encouragement for John as he began his own electrical contracting business. Over the years, Lorraine would continue her educational interests by taking classes at BCC and volunteering at Chenango Bridge Elementary School listening to children read. She also started a local support group for other blind women, was active in the Volunteers of America, and a local prison ministry. In 1979, she received a seeing eye dog named Denver. At the age of 60, she became employed at the Blind Work Association, retiring at age 70. She was known as an extremely generous, loving, wise, inspiring, and courageous woman and she will be dearly missed by all who loved her. The family would like to thank all of the wonderful people who took such gentle care of our mom, including the people at Good Shepherd Fairview Home Fourth Floor ALPS Unit, Lourdes Hospital Seton 1, and the Good Shepherd Village Second Floor. Funeral services will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 23, at Wm. R. Chase & Son Funeral Home, 737 Chenango St., Port Dickinson followed at 10:00 by a funeral mass at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 1031 Chenango St., Binghamton. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions in Lorraine's memory to Catholic Charities of Broome County flood relief program at www.catholiccharitiesbc.org or to the Foundation Fighting Blindness and Retinitis Pigmentosa at www.blindness.org