Obituary of Lorraine A. de Cillis

Lorraine A. de Cillis passed away on Tuesday, May 5th, 2020 in Allendale, NJ, where she had resided for the last 20 months. She was 93 years old. Lorraine was born in the Bronx, New York and graduated from Walton High School before entering the workforce. She married Joseph L. de Cillis in November of 1948 when he began his career at Pfizer. Her husband’s job involved several moves including four and a half years living in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 1963, they moved back to the United States and settled in Old Greenwich, Connecticut. A loving wife and mother, Lorraine worked raising her children and supporting her husband’s career. She was a gifted homemaker who loved to cook and garden. She also spent many years volunteering at Greenwich Hospital. She enjoyed the ballet and the theater and traveled all over the world. She was a golf enthusiast and enjoyed a good game of bridge. In 1997, Lorraine moved to Mahwah, NJ, and became involved in Church of the Epiphany, Allendale, where she served on the Altar Guild. She also spent many years volunteering at Kurth Cottage at Valley Hospital. Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents, Agnes and Nicholas, her sisters, Marion Le Done and Joan Wdowski, and, in 1977, her beloved husband of 28 years, Joseph. She is survived by her daughter, Diane Firkins and her husband, Bruce, NJ; her son, Joseph and his wife Rhonda; and her sister, Patricia Tilson. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Joseph de Cillis, Jamie Ives, Jessica Greene, Andrew Firkins and Katie Teague; and great-grandchildren, Joey, Gianna, Cole, Rhys, Jameson, Wilder, Alex and Ryan. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to St. Jude Tribute Program, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142. Arrangements are by the Vander Plaat Funeral Home of Wyckoff.