The former Lorraine Mary Braun died on September 26, 2026, at her home in Joppa, Maryland. She was 97 1/2 years old.
Lorraine graduated from Patterson Park High School with an Academic Diploma. She anticipated entering college, but circumstances led her to seek employment at Esso Standard Oil Company, later known as Exxon. She excelled in composition and shorthand and met her lifelong friend, Mary Bonnet, who later became a nun. She married her late-teen sweetheart, Richard "Dick" Whitely, whom she had met during a summer job at Eastern Venetian Blind Company. They moved to Overlea, in Baltimore County, and joined St. Michael Roman Catholic Church where Lorraine was a member of the Blessed Virgin Mary's Sodality and Ladies of Charity. She also developed the Parent-Education Series, administered by the late Reverend John Griesacker, and the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. She distributed religious education pamphlets and made Baptismal Pinafores for the newborn babies throughout the parish, a first in the Archdiocese.
Lorraine and Dick decided to build a home in Harford County to accommodate their 5 children, grow a large vegetable and fruit garden, and learn the arts of freezing, canning, pickling, and preserving. She took tailoring courses which helped her to outfit the children and make a variety of school projects. The family built a Salt-box style vacation home in Bethany Beach, Delaware, and later a multi-level home in Ocean View, Delaware, as they were very beach-minded and had vacationed at the Ocean for many years.
Becoming a communicant of St. Stephen Roman Catholic Church in Bradshaw, Lorraine worked to distribute clothing and food to the needy. She was a Leader in the St. Stephen's Prayer Group and a member of the Marian Movement of Priests.
In her later years, Lorraine was enthralled with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and delighted in their attentions.
Lorraine is survived by three daughters, Adrienne J. Brown and her husband, James K. Augustowski of Kingsville, Mary Carol DeVilbiss and her late husband, Francis Gerard (Jerry) of Nottingham, Susan H. Pazdersky and her husband, Donald K. of Joppa, and two sons, the late Richard K. Whitely and his wife, Patricia Baremore Whitely of Summerville, SC/Evansville, IN, and Christopher C. Whitely and his wife, Jeanne M.Whitely of Hernando Beach, FL. She was also survived by her 14 grandchildren, Tina Marie Cimino, Craig A. Brown, Amanda G. Harry, Katie Marie Baghli, Karen T Brown, Eric L. DeVilbiss, Kenneth J. DeVilbiss, Richard (Ricky) F. Whitely, Amy M. Augustowski, Amber L. Martin, Christine Calhoun, Sean Baremore, and the late Patricia "Susie" Toucheck, the late Joseph Toucheck and 23 great-grandchildren, as well as her sister, Lydia P. Aquino, brother Lawrence S. Maloy and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was predeceased in death by her parents Harold Braun and Josephine "Jean" Siemek Pedrolini, and her sister, Marlene A. Golumbek.
Family and friends will celebrate Lorraine's life at Schimunek Funeral Home, Inc., 9705 Belair Road, Nottingham (Perry Hall), MD 21236, on Sunday, October 11, 2026, from 2-4 and 6-8 PM.
A Mass of Resurrection will be held on Monday, October 12, 2026, 10:30 AM, at St. Stephen Catholic Church, 8030 Bradshaw Road, Kingsville, MD 21087.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Lorraine's name to St. Stephen Catholic Church, 8030 Bradshaw Road, Kingsville, MD 21087.
