Lorraine Frances Mathes

On Sunday, December 27th, Lorraine (Zacharias) Mathes, of Maple City, MI passed away peacefully in the presence of her loving family. The daughter of Christina M. Jankowski and Stephen J. Zacharias, Lorraine was born in 1937, in Wayne County, MI. She was a 1955 graduate of St. Mary’s High School, and remained in southeast Michigan throughout her early adult life. It was there that she met and married Joseph Mathes, her devoted spouse of 63 years, and where they raised their family of five children: Lori Mathes of Novi, MI; Carrie Guerrette of Southport, NC; Pamela Tran of McLeansville, NC; Joseph C. Mathes of Greensboro, NC; and Donna St. Jean of Southport, NC.

Lorraine lived a full and beautiful life, accompanied by a host of people who loved her. Throughout her life, she enjoyed all manner of sport, travel and entertainment: bowling, golf, softball in a mother/daughter league, racquetball, and playing cards, especially Pinochle in a monthly card club with her cousins. But her greatest joy in life was the time she spent with family and friends at her home on Glen Lake, on the shores of Lake Michigan, at her winter home in the Florida Keys, or anywhere she happened to be visiting. She loved to cook and she loved to laugh, and she devoted her life to her husband, her children and her entire family.

Lorraine is survived by her husband, five children and their spouses, seven grandchildren, two great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was the last of six siblings including; Christina (Tena) Little, Stephen Melvin (Zack) Zacharias, Leon Zacharias, Paula Leach, and David Zacharias.

Lorraine and her family are being cared for by the Hanes Lineberry Funeral Home in Greensboro, NC. A Christian mass and celebration of her life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Empire Area Community Center, EACC / Emergency Fund, P.O. Box 123 Empire, MI 49630.