- Date Of Birth: August 3, 1931
- Date Of Death: April 10, 2019
- State: California
Renée Anchondo
561.568.0573
Hear Her Roar!
Lorraine Anchondo was on her own since age 14. She spent her teen years caring for a lovely Italian family. There, she learned to cook. She helped with the cleaning and other chores, but they considered her family. She raised her children like it was the most important thing in the world. She was very proud of her husband and children.
When she was 39, Lorraine decided to become a nurse. This meant attending night school to get her high school diploma. She didn’t neglect her family though. The Crock Pot had just come out, and she made great use of it! She left notes with assignments, chores, and instructions on what to do with the “Crock Luck” as the family called it. It was around this time Renée started calling her “Woman”. (Hear me roar!)
Woman proceeded to college to pursue nursing. When the family car was wrecked, Mom bought an old Fairlane from a friend for $50. The friend tried to make it a gift, but Mom insisted on paying. The old Fairlane was stolen at the college! Woman plodded on, taking the bus, getting rides, and even hitch-hiking! She graduated nursing school with honors. She loved being a nurse, and at her first job, she was named “Nurse of the Year”. They didn’t even have a “Nurse of the Year” designation yet … she was the first one!
Woman retired from nursing, but she kept herself very busy sewing, cooking, and doing other things she loved. She was famous for her “Wednesday Night Dinners” at her mobile home, where family and friends were welcome. There were usually about ten guests, and NOT pot-luck. Mom cooked it ALL – from entrée to dessert.
Cancer claimed her beloved husband, Joe, in 2008 and her youngest son, Russell, in 2011. Joe was 95, and lived a full life, but dear Russell was only 54. That was nearly impossible for the family, but Woman carried on with her Wednesday Night Dinners!
Lorraine’s final days were spent happily enjoying a quiet life at home with her little Pug, Ming.
Lorraine was born to Ernest and Evelyn Boudreau. She dearly loved her sisters, and she survived them all: Edna Heath, Jeanette Drake, and Evelyn Jones. She caringly mothered Arnold Woodin, Joe Anchondo, Mike Anchondo, Russell Anchondo (RIP), and Renée Anchondo-Solis.