Lorraine Duda

August 25, 1923 – January 25, 2022

Lorraine Elouise Spies was born and raised in Elizabeth, MN. She worked on the family farm milking cows. In her twenties she rode the train to Oregon with her father, in search of another farm. They settled in Silverton, where she worked at Steelhammer Drug as a soda jerk. She loved it and talked about it many times over the years.

Lorraine met her future husband Walter Duda at a local dance. They wedded in 1950 and were happily married 45 years. Their first home was close to the family farm, most notable for the two – hole outhouse. A few years later they moved into their permanent home and raised four children. She cooked many meals for her family and farm workers and still remembered delivering summer sausage sandwiches on homemade bread, with ice cold milk or homemade root beer to the barnyard. Her dinner table was always full and room for one more.

She was a lifelong member of the Catholic Daughters and Marion County Dairy Wives. She enjoyed making friendship bags filled with toiletries for soldiers to hand to children overseas. She made countless loaves of bread for St. Mary's bake sales. She volunteered at the election polls and took much pride in her work at the Benedictine Nursing Center, sitting with the dying, taking residents to Mass and wheelchair square dancing. She liked crocheting, playing cansta, solitaire, and puzzles.

Mom passed surrounded by family, looking forward to going home to Jesus and her beloved family. She is preceded in death by husband Walter, her father Francis Spies, mother Anna (Gander) Spies and brother Frankie Spies.

Lorraine is survived by her daughters Virginia (Alan) Ringo, Mary Duda, sons Joe (Pam) Duda, John (Lori) Duda, along with 7 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Honorary sons include Bob Duda and Mike Bradley.

A special thanks to all of mom's caregivers who gave her quality of life and her family peace of mind. We would also like to thank Willamette Valley Hospice for their invaluable support and services.

Services to be held Friday, Feb. 18 at St. Mary's Church in Mt. Angel. Rosery at 10:30 am, funeral 11:00 am.