Lorraine Helen Callaghan

Lorraine Helen Callaghan, age 72, of Grand Rapids, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 20th, of stage 4 aggressive lymphoma. She showed us how to accept death with faith, dignity and courage. She was born May 8, 1953, in Canada to the late Adrian and Sarah Winters, who had immigrated from Scotland and the Netherlands.

She received her education in Grand Rapids, graduating from Marywood Academy and attending Michigan State University.

Her employment was always in the service field. Her favorite job was her ten year home day care business. She also worked at many local businesses interacting with people. Her last job was with Breton Woods of Holland Home where she always looked forward to Mondays to see her residents and fellow employees and shine her positive light on all. She continued working past retirement age until cancer made her unable to work.

Lorraine truly enjoyed people. She was conscious of remembering their names and family members ages. She connected with others through old fashioned handwritten notecards-often with a poem or inspirational thoughts included. She was full of gratitude for life. Other ways she shared this faith in positivity was by volunteering for many years with the women’s jail ministry and Hospice grief counseling.

Lorraine lived her faith daily with an active prayer life. She was a longtime parishioner at St. Alphonsus Parish where she made many close friends in the women’s Faith Sharing Group.

She was born into a rich heritage which was kept alive through stories and treasures. Her family spent many summers in Scotland, her mother’s birthplace. She shared 63 years of friendship with a childhood friend there, Joyce Coburn. Her father, born in the Netherlands and owner of Adrian’s Romona Terrace, added his heritage and family to her loving list of relatives.

She is survived by her daughter, Heather (Alex Pailla) of Lombard Illinois, her grandsons, Marlin and Colin Molina, her brother Adrian Callaghan, her sister Rochelle (Ron) Block, her goddaughter Colleen Paiz, and her best friend, Hancy Helsel. Numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends will treasure her memory.

She was preceded in death by her father, mother and many family members.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Breton Woods of Holland Home and Faith Hospice for the exceptional care, compassion and love for Lorraine.

Friends and family will gather for a Celebration of Life on Saturday, December 6, at St. Alphonsus Parish, 224 Carrier Street, N.E., Grand Rapids. Visitation is 10:00 to 11:00 with Mass at 11:00. A luncheon will follow at church. 

As you may know, Lorraine loved colors. If attending this celebration she requested that you come in colorful attire. She said she “would haunt you if you wore black.”

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Faith Hospice, 989 Spaulding Ave. SE, Ada, MI 49301-3701. Your gift benefits families in our community.