Lorraine Rita Richter

Lorraine Rita Richter (87) died peacefully on Tuesday, May 30th with family by her side. Born in Brooklyn, NY, she was predeceased by her cherished daughter, Melissa Ruocco, loving husband Richard Morton Richter, her parents Edward Bigauette and Irene Abrams and puppy Tiffany (who she also loved as part of her family). Lorraine was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and enjoyed life to its fullest although she still needed a good deal of help with her backhand (tennis joke). She is survived by her children: Garry Cole, Andrea Woodall, Jim Richter, Benjamin Richter, and Scott Richter (her favorite of course); grandchildren: Erika Richter, Stephanie Woodall, Jessica Woodall, Jamie Woodall, David Woodall, Benji Richter, Harry Richter, Andy Richter, Jordan Cole, Nick Richter, Andrew Richter, Jeffrey Ruocco, and Amber Ruocco; great grandchildren: Josiah Anthony Goderis. Though she had a very colorful and fun life, her primary and most cherished thing was her family (tennis and tennis friend was very, very close second), Lorraine was a seriously beautiful woman and her beauty carried her through careers as a New York model, CopaCabana Girl (cue Barry Manilow) and an actress (various shows from the 50’s; she was even on Kathy and Regis, not bad), the years she spent working ended up landing her most significant role as our Mom and it was her greatest accomplishment. Aside from her family, she had a love for tennis and the friends that came along with it.  Her friends love for her is/was absolute - being with her friends, helping her friends and neighbors was a joy for her and a blessing as they took very good care of her to the very end.  True friend are hard to find unless you spend any time around Lorraine, then it’s extremely easy (just look to her sides – forehand or backhand sides that is). Lorraine enjoyed leading her tennis teams, loved to travel and loved her babies, all of them. Two years ago, Mom was on the tennis court of course and fell flat on her pretty nose.  She did not even realize she was falling.  From there she steadily declined and without any test results pointing to serious illness that would explain it.  She went to the hospital twice, maybe three times and her third was to go home with hospice palliative care and her family.  She was meticulously cared for 24/7 during her time home where she wanted to be surrounded by her children and friends. Lorraine will always be remembered for being the life of the party and for never being hard to find at one given her extravagant wardrobe. We will all miss her so much and always hold her in our hearts. A private service will be held on Sunday morning, June 4th at Hawthorne Funeral Home and will be laid to rest between Richard and his brother Fred in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Hawthorne, NY. There will be a party / Shiva at Old Oaks Country Club in Purchase, NY (3100 Purchase Street; 914-683-6000) following to celebrate Lorraine's life following burial services.  Just follow the people dressed for her party.

HAWTHORNE FUNERAL HOME
21 West Stevens Ave
Hawthorne, New York 10532
914-769-4404

Mount Pleasant Cemetery
80 Commerce Street
Hawthorne, NY 10532
(914) 769-0397

Old Oaks Country Club
3100 Purchase Street
Purchase, NY 10577
(914) 683-6000