Obituary of Lorraine M. Welsh

Lorraine M Welsh Leesburg, FL Lorraine M Welsh, 91, formerly of Portville (1966) and West Clarksville (1969) went home to her Lord on Monday (January 9, 2023) at the home of her daughter Lauren, with whom she resided for the past 15 years. Our world is less bright with her passing. Born May 19, 1931 in Niagara Falls, she was one of 7 children born to Thomas F and Eliza Belisle Grenville. Lorraine graduated in 1949 from LaSalle High School and married John Welsh on November 18, 1950. John predeceased her on March 3, 1993. Lorraine was employed by St Bonaventure University in 1970 principally as an archival supervisor until her retirement after 30 years. She loved that job! She and John also had a beef cattle farm in West Clarksville. (Oh, if those cows could talk!!!) She was a former member of Hillside Wesleyan Church in Olean and also used her beautiful singing voice with the Keynote Chorus. Lorraine learned basketweaving from her daughter Lynn in her later years and loved selling and giving them away, maintaining a basket & fudge shop on the Olcott boardwalk for several seasons. She also patiently taught her art to others along the way. Until the very end of her days with us, Lorraine was an encourager, a faithful advocate for friends and family, selfless with her time, talent, and resources, ever curious about our world, and totally committed to Jesus Christ. Her generosity and sense of humor brought relief to hard times and joy to good times. Lorraine leaves behind 2 daughters, Lauren (Gerald) Millard of Leesburg, FL, and Lynn (Jerry) Manning of Byhalia, MS; 2 sons William (Bernadette) Welsh of North Haven, CT and John (Heidi) Welsh of Encinitas, CA; 14 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren; 2 brothers, Ernest (Carol) Grenville of Port Charlotte, FL and Ted (Kay) Grenville of Cape Canaveral, FL; 2 sisters, Madeline Reece (late Wallace) of Youngstown, NY and Sandra Grenville of Allegany, NY; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by 2 delightful brothers, Thomas Grenville, and Dennis Grenville; a brother-in-law Wallace Reece, and a grandson, Peter G Millard. The family is planning a memorial service in the summer on July 15, 2023 at the Hillside Wesleyan Church in Olean where all will be welcome. It will be held at a time to be announced. Burial will follow in the West Clarksville Cemetery, followed by a luncheon at Moonwinks Restaurant in Cuba, NY. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Smile Train, a charity dear to Lorraine’s heart, operating to assist with cleft palate correctional surgery, PO Box 96231, Washington, D 20090-6231 (www.smiletrain.org) Arrangements are under the direction of the Casey, Halwig & Hartle Funeral Home, Olean, NY.