It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Lorraine Henderson McGonigle, age 81, who passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at her home in Palm Bay, Florida, surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Chester, PA, Lorraine was a proud graduate of Notre Dame High School in Moylan, PA. She spent much of her life in Delaware County, PA, and later moved with her beloved husband, John “Jack” McGonigle, to the Pocono Mountains, where they enjoyed many wonderful years together until Jack’s passing in 2017.
Lorraine was the heart of her family — a devoted wife, a loving mother, and a proud grandmother and great-grandmother. Predeceased by her parents Stephen and Rose DeChec (DiMatteo), she is survived by her daughters, Sherri Prendergast (Mark) and Stephanie Spence (Michael); grandchildren Stephen & Christopher Schoell, Jessica McLeod (Seth), Ashley Clarke (David) and Connor Spence; great-grandchildren Sophia Spence, Lorraina Clarke, Lucas McLeod, Killian McLeod and Emma Schoell. She is also survived by her sister, Nancy Swallow, and nieces Jennifer Swallow and Carlie Adams (Patrick) who remained a constant source of love, friendship and support throughout Lorraine’s life.
A woman of many passions, Lorraine found great joy in the simple and meaningful things in life. She was an exceptional cook and baker, known far and wide for her famous homemade Christmas cookies, which were a treasured tradition for family and friends alike. A true lover of the arts, she had a lifelong affection for Broadway musicals, could often be found engrossed in a good book and would spend countless hours with a book in hand, always eager to dive into a new one. She loved to travel by exploring new places near and far, embracing the new adventure full of laughter and making every trip memorable.
Lorraine will be remembered most for her warmth, wit, and unwavering devotion to her family. She leaves behind a legacy of kindness and cherished memories that will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.
Services will be held on Friday, September 12th at Bateman-Allen Funeral Home in Brookhaven, 4220 Edgmont Ave., Brookhaven, PA, 19015. Calling hours will begin at 9:00 a.m., with a memorial service at 10:30am, followed by a burial at Immaculate Heart Cemetery in Linwood, Pennsylvania.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, an organization close to Lorraine’s heart. Donations can be made online at www.stjude.org or mailed to:
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105
In honoring Lorraine’s life, we celebrate a woman who lived fully and loved deeply — a mother, grandmother, sister, and friend whose memory will live on in all the lives she touched.
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