Lorraine A. Gilbert, 87, of Whitman Massachusetts died, June 3rd at South Shore Hospital after a brief illness.
Born in Weymouth, Massachusetts in 1934, the oldest of 5 children and only daughter of John A. West and Ruth (Winslow) West, grew up in the Brookville section of Holbrook, Mass.
After high school she enjoyed a position as switchboard operator for Eaton Shoes in Brockton, Mass. It was at that time she met her future husband at the nearby auto parts store. Carl kept her waiting for weeks for a set of wiper blades all the while getting to know her better. Later she found out the blades were there the whole time! They were later married at St Johns.
While raising her family she enjoyed a career with Shaw’s Supermarkets, having worked the lunch counter and later in the Bakery of the new Hanson location.
Lorraine was married to the late Carl V. Gilbert for 60 years and is survived by her daughter Kathleen (Gilbert) Marinucci of Canton, sons Wayne V. Gilbert and his wife Beth of Martson's Mills and her son with whom she resided, Paul A. Gilbert and his wife Erin (Fleming) in Whitman and their Chocolate Lab “Junior”, who was a favorite daily visitor, known to steal her slippers. Lorraine especially enjoyed calls and visits with her 5 grandchildren, Katrina Walther Denton and her Husband Alex, Eric Walther, Dr. Michael M. Gilbert of Madison, Wisconsin, Rachael E. Gilbert of Charleston, South Carolina and KC Cunningham of Corvallis, Oregon.
She enjoyed being a member of the Ladies Auxiliary Club and the American Legion. She enjoyed cooking, listening to country music, camping, boating and road trips with her family and spending time with her grandchildren, nieces, nephews and many friends and neighbors.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral services on Friday June 10 at 11am in the Blanchard Funeral Chapel, Plymouth Street (Rte. 58 @ the rotary) Whitman. Visiting hours will be held prior to the service from 10-11am. Burial will follow at Colebrook Cemetery, Whitman.