Lorraine Bemis 88, passed away peacefully Tuesday March 21, 2023 at the University of Vermont Medical center in Burlington after a brief illness.
Lorraine was born January 15, 1935 in Addison, Vermont, the daughter of Arthur and Justine (Garneau) Andrews. Lorraine grew up in Addison and attended school in Addison and Vergennes where she graduated from high school.
In 1955 while attending a dance, she met Charles Bemis. They married in 1957 and had celebrated 60 years of marriage until Charles’ death in 2017. With Charles, they raised four children in Addison. When the children had grown, Lorraine worked for 18 years for Northlands Job Corps in Vergennes as a book keeper and was a friendly face in the department to staff and students.
Lorraine was also active in the Addison Baptist church as a congregant and official. She enjoyed gardening with Charles, spent numerous hours delving through the genealogy of the Bemis and Andrews families, spending time with family and baking or cooking with her grandchildren. In recent years, she loved to swap jokes with family and friends and play the piano for their enjoyment.
Lorraine was predeceased by her husband Charles Bemis Sr., brothers Leonard, Richard and Bernard Andrews and grand-daughter Sara Maxfield. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Charles and Janice (Parker) Bemis Jr., daughter Lisa Maxfield, daughter and son-in-law Corinne and Craig Isvak and son and daughter-in-law Craig and Beth (Burnham) Bemis. She will also be missed by her grandchildren Kate (Maxfield) Turre and her husband Nate, Dana Maxfield and his wife Amy, Renate Isvak, Ethan Isvak, Thomas Bemis and Matthew Bemis. Her former grand-daughter-in-law Sabrina Maxfield and great-grandchildren Kaia Turre, Alina Turre, Cole Lee Turre and Mason Maxfield were special to her. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
A short ceremony will be held for Lorraine on Saturday April 1st at the Brown-McClay funeral home in Vergennes at 1 p.m. A private interment will be in the Grandview Cemetery in Addison at a future date. The family requests that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the The Grandview Cemetery Association c/o Craig Bemis/Treasurer 289 Belden Falls Road, New Haven Vermont 05472 or The Addison Volunteer Fire Department 44 VT Route 17 West. Addison, VT 05491. To send online condolences to her family please visit www.brownmcclayfuneralhomes.com
Deepest sympathies to the Bemis Family. Lorraine was a wonderful person. I loved going over and visiting with her when I was growing up. She and Charlie were very special people and dearest friends to the Rivers family. Thoughts and prayers sent to you all. Nickie Rivers O’Brien (Louie Jr. & Diane Rivers’ middle daughter).