Lorraine Budion

December 6, 1929 - February 2, 2021

Our friend, our beautiful Mother, went to Heaven on February 2 at 1:45pm, at the age of 91. Mom was our teacher, mentor, guide and one of the smartest, toughest and strongest people we knew – a true Brooklyn girl at heart. She was her own woman and you always knew where you stood – for better or worse she told it as it was. A fighter up to the end after overcoming years of different illnesses and pain, Mom exemplified what it means to be a survivor. She loved life. Really loved life and laughter. Her best medicine was laughter and positivity and she made everyone laugh with her sense of humor and off color remarks. Mom was raised by a single Mother, our Nana Alice, since she was three. She was resourceful and resilient and never finished high school as she had to start working. Mom was a professional roller skater when young and had endless energy and spark for anything new. Mom worked with Nana and was introduced to our Dad, Lawrence, through her Mother. We came to know that Nana wanted to be an actress which explains why Mom had an insatiable appetite for anything entertainment – musicals, performances, theater of any kind. She loved to sing, and dance and our house was always filled with music growing up. There wasn’t a store that Mom wouldn’t want to shop in – it was her therapy as she was charged finding special things to surprise people. She worked part-time while raising her family as a manicurist, retail sales, and in the local neighborhood bank. Wherever she was, Mom made friends and said, “To have friends, you have to be a friend.” To the day Mom went to Heaven, her lifelong friends were in her life blanketing her with their love. Mom was an avid reader, played word games and enjoyed cards with her friends which kept her mind as alert as an eagle. Mom was the consummate event planner, focusing on every detail through the celebrations and joy our house was filled with at holidays and special occasions. Mom loved and lived for her family – she perked up during visits and on calls whether from her daughter, Dianne (Michael), sons Larry and Rick, special daughters-in-law, Sarah and Linda, and her grandchildren – Anthony (Tiana), John (Liz), Richie, Diana, Nicholas and her great grandchildren, McKayla and Maddox. Her family were her riches. Mom wasn’t rich but one of the richest people on earth. We are forever grateful to all she gave us Mom, wherever you are, just keep dancing. We know that our hearts have grown bigger knowing that you are in them forever. You truly demonstrated how one life can make a difference to so many. You are the wind beneath our wings.