Lorraine Helen Heitman

Lorraine was born in Queens, New York in 1927. Her parents, Helen and Chester Payntar, were proud that their ancestors arrived in the United States on the Mayflower – and were humble enough to clarify that they weren’t on the original voyage, but a subsequent trip. Lorraine fondly remembered growing up above an antique store in a small apartment she shared with her parents and her younger brother Bill on Corona Avenue in the Elmhurst neighborhood. On Sundays when the store was closed, Lorraine and her friends would enter the store from the back stairs and go inside to listen and dance to music on a phonograph. As far as we know, they never got caught.

As a teen, Lorraine was a competitive dance roller-skater, and she was good! She won two gold medals at the state championship level along with a few silver and bronze medals for good measure. It was on a summer Saturday night at the roller-skating rink that she first met the love of her life, Bill Heitman. Afterwards, they would each go to the rink hoping to see each other and, eventually, Bill would walk Lorraine the short distance home. Later in life, they would playfully argue over who it was that winked at the other one first on the night they met.

Lorraine and Bill got married on January 26, 1947. They initially rented a single room from a young family that became the setting for many stories they later told, including the time Lorraine cooked canned lobster on a hot plate and the unfortunate fate of a pet frog. They soon moved up in the world, first by renting out a basement apartment in Queens complete with a “state of the art” ice box that had a habit of flooding. After a brief time living in Maspeth, they were thrilled to buy their first house in Springfield Gardens with some help from the GI bill.

In 1961, Bill and Lorraine moved to Freeport, NY where they raised their three children, all of whom survive them: Lynn Heitman, Jill Grupski (Thomas) and William Heitman (Beth). Lorraine and the whole family loved living on the water and trips to the beach by boat were a treat every weekend in the summers. Lorraine helped support the family by working as a secretary at Dodd Jr. High School, a job that she really enjoyed. In 1973, when Bill retired from the NYPD, they moved to Oldsmar, Florida where they built their dream house on Tampa Bay and lived together until Bill passed away in 2011. In Florida, she worked at St. Petersburg Junior College and enjoyed spending time with her cousin, Henna and her husband, John; picnicking at Philippe Park; boating around Honeymoon Island; watching sunsets from their backyard overlooking the bay and hosting family gatherings any time she had the chance. Bill and Lorraine’s trip to Hawaii to see her cousin Jo Ann with her brother Bill and sister-in-law Liz was a vacation to remember. There were numerous cruises where the entire family came together, and on their 50th wedding anniversary, Bill and Lorraine were honored with a “It’s a Wonderful Life” anniversary celebration with family and friends from around the country.

Lorraine counted herself lucky to have close relationships with her seven grandchildren, all of whom survive her: Doug Barnette, Kristy Saffo, Kristin Klima, Allison Grupski, Karen Brennan, Scott Heitman, and Andrew Heitman. To their grandchildren, Oldsmar was the only home Lorraine and Bill ever had. They have fond memories of fishing from their dock, eating dinner at their dining room table overlooking the bay, and laughing every time Bill told Lorraine that each meal she cooked was the best one he ever had. As the years passed, Lorraine became a proud great grandmother (also known as Nana or Nana Too) to 16 great grandchildren who range in age from one month to 18 years old.

Lorraine’s abiding Christian faith was important to her, and her life of generosity and unconditional love reflected this. She was a lifelong member of the Lutheran church. During the end of her life she was lovingly ministered by Pastor Schnelle of Bethel Lutheran Church.

We, Lorraine’s family, think that she was the best Mom, Grandma, Nana, and Nana-Too there ever was. Her family was her life. She cherished her husband Bill, each of her children, grand and great grandchildren. We are grateful for the love and support she gave us, and we rest easy knowing that she will forever rest peacefully with her loving husband, Bill.