Lorraine M. Feeney serenely passed away on June 25, 2024 in Toms River, New Jersey, having her daughters, Sharon A. Bass and Jean E. Feeney, and her special friend, Teresa Nicolicchia by her side. In the days prior to Lorraine’s passing, all of her children, Raymond F. Feeney, Jr. and his wife Connie, and Cynthia T. Feeney, along with Sharon, Jean, and Teresa, were by her side comforting her.
Lorraine was born on January 27, 1929 to Jesse and Margaret (nee Peter) Vincent in Saint Mary’s Hospital in Orange, New Jersey. She, along with her eight brothers and sisters, lived in West Orange until they moved to Cumberland Avenue in Verona in 1940. Lorraine attended Our Lady of the Lake Grammar School in Verona and graduated from Verona High School.
During her teenage years, Lorraine’s father left the family, leaving her mother with nine children to raise. Lorraine helped her mother support her siblings by working several jobs, from outside child care to being a waitress. While waitressing, she met her future husband, Raymond F. Feeney. On May 28, 1955, Ray and Lorraine married, beginning their life together on Cumberland Avenue. Lorraine and Ray had five children; however sadly their last child, daughter Mary, only survived a few hours after birth and Lorraine never had the chance to hold her. This sadness remained with Lorraine throughout her life, but she often said that she knew that God would join them and she would be able to hold her daughter in her arms.
In 1964, Ray and Lorraine moved their family to the “country,” Succasunna, New Jersey. They were members of Saint Therese Parish, and their children attended Saint Therese Grammar School. Lorraine was a past president of the Rosary Altar Society and both she and Ray were called on many times to assist the Dominican Sisters at the school with projects and events.
In 1966, Lorraine became a school bus driver for Roxbury Township. As the newest bus driver, she was assigned the dreaded bus number 1; a bus that had no defrosters and no power steering. However, what she did have when she started driving the bus was a special copilot, her daughter Cynthia who was too young to go to school. Cindy would sit on the heater next to Lorraine as she made her rounds.
In 1973, Lorraine became employed by the Roxbury Township Municipal Court. She started as a clerk and rose to the level of Municipal Court administrator. She worked in the court for 30 years. Lorraine, as always, went above and beyond in her role as court administrator. She had tremendous admiration and respect for the judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys. In addition, Lorraine had a deep appreciation and affection for the members of the police force. She would help defendants navigate their way through the process, at times speaking on their behalf to the judge, helping them pay their fines and one time bringing a young woman home so she did not have to spend the night in jail.
During her time working with the court, her husband became disabled. This did not deter Lorraine, who without complaint worked additional jobs to make ends meet and to ensure her children had all that they needed. One job in particular that she loved was as a waitress at the Heslin House in Wharton, New Jersey. Every night Lorraine worked, she started by buying the chef, Jimmy, a scotch, thereby ensuring that the many customers that would request Lorraine to be their server were well taken care of.
After her retirement in 2003, Ray and Lorraine moved to Silver Ridge Park North in Toms River. At that time, Lorraine began a life that was full of fun, friendship and jam packed with activities. She was a president of the Women’s Club of Silver Ridge Park North, a position which she cherished. During the week, Lorraine’s activities included mahjong on Mondays, bowling on Wednesdays, mahjong on Thursdays, poker on Fridays and dinner out with her friends on Sundays. When you think that on Saturdays she would want to rest and relax, she would often say “I’m bored.” She went to the theater, to Woodloch Pines Resort, Wildwood end of season weeks, Saint Patrick parties, July fourth celebrations, Christmas festivities and the list goes on and on. Lorraine said after she moved to Silver Ridge Park North that those were the best years of her life.
Above all this, though, Lorraine’s biggest joy and loves were her children. She was a friend, partner-in-crime, confidante, but most of all a devoted mother. Lorraine will be remembered for her kindness, sense of humor, love of parties and generosity.
Lorraine is predeceased by her husband, Raymond; daughter, Mary; father, Jesse; mother, Margaret, sisters, Sr. Joyce Vincent, O.P., Delores DeFoe, and Gloria Caponigro; and brothers, Jesse Vincent, Jr., Roger Vincent, Raymond Vincent, and Peter Vincent.
Lorraine is survived by her children and their spouses, Sharon and Franklin Bass, Raymond and Connie Feeney, Jean Feeney, her “daughter” Teresa Nicolicchia, and Cynthia Feeney and Sonia Ramirez; her sister, Vivian DaRoja, and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Lorraine’s family is grateful to all her caregivers, especially John Strazdas and Lida Nunez, who were there to care and love Lorraine throughout her final days.
Visiting in the Prout Funeral Home, 370 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona will be on Sunday, June 30 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. A funeral mass will be offered in Our Lady of the Lake Church, Verona on Monday, July 1 at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Lorraine’s name to Silver Ridge Park North, 101 Westport Drive, Toms River, New Jersey, 08757.
Condolences may be left on her Remember Page at proutfuneralhome.com.
