On August 21, 2026 around 8:45 PM, heaven called for its newest angel, Lorraine Marie Miles (nee Piekos). At that time, she was surrounded by love, with her devoted husband and their children by her side.
Upon approaching the gates of heaven, she immediately was bestowed wings by St. Peter, greeted excitedly first by her dear mother and father, Helen and William Piekos. They of course already made a special cake for the occasion, with homemade frosting, and they enjoyed a slice together after she blew the candles out, then proceeded to escort her into paradise. They strolled together along an infinitely long beach with blindingly bright white sand that squeaked as you walk through it, engulfed in palm trees filled with tropical fruits and birds, with bright turquoise oceans, and great waves crashing along the shore.
Along their walk, they picked up others that had been accepted to heaven before her, including her sister Barbara, her aunt Harriet, and her uncle Witold, her mother-in-law Mary, her sister-in-law, Donna, her brother-in-law Denis, her sister-in-law Carol. Aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, former students, neighbors, childhood friends, and other special people that were in her life arrived to fawn over her like a celebrity as she walked and walked and walked for the first time in over a year. They all cheered at a decibel level as loud as combining Fenway Park, the old Boston Garden, and Gillette Stadium and it could be heard all the way from Earth.
Many family dogs queued, with leashes in their mouths, silently wagging their tails, waiting patiently for their turn for her to take them on the longest walk they’ve ever had. Family cats purred and rubbed against her as she strode. The sun was setting perpetually, creating the most picturesque landscape on the ocean, and the golden hour hue across her perfect skin. Somehow, she even found a way to manage to read a dozen novels along the way! An avid reader on Earth when healthy, she had some catching up to do.
Lorraine Marie (Piekos) Miles was gifted to Earth by her Polish American parents Helen and William Piekos on January 21, 1943.
She grew up a devout Catholic in East Cambridge, Massachusetts, with 4 siblings (Barbara, Claire, William, and Joseph). To this day neighbors still remember her fondly (“Oh, you’re Lorraine’s child?!”, has excitedly been exclaimed dozens of times over the years along Third St. or Thorndike St). She graduated from Matignon High School in 1960 and then studied Education at Boston State College graduating in 1964. While in college, during a fateful evening studying at Harvard Library in 1962, she met the love of her life, Robert Miles (Bob).
Bob and Lorraine married on July 9, 1966, and eventually settled in Medford, Massachusetts where she would live the rest of her years. During those years she dedicated her life to children, and teaching. Between 1967 and 1981 they brought 8 children into this world that continue to adore her (Bobby, Kathy, Kimmy, Lauren, Robin, Chris, Kristin and Jonathan). She constantly showered her children with unconditional love. She ensured that hugs and saying “I love you” were bountiful at 61 Summit Rd. She always prioritized their education, and she was very proud that all 8 children graduated from college.
In her teaching career, she taught all grades from pre-school to high school at various parochial and public schools, influencing the lives of thousands. She believed in every single one of her students. She was treated as an area celebrity by those students any time she ran errands, went food shopping, or went to the mall. So many students and former students would go out of their way as soon as they saw her to come say hello and thank you to their favorite teacher, Mrs. Miles. Though she did not really love the spotlight and attention, she always showed them love in return.
She made everyone in her life feel special and welcome, especially her husband, her children and their spouses (Tina, Patrick, Dermot, Sabrina, Kevin, and Lyndsay), her seven grandchildren (Alexander, Samantha, Rachel, Noah, Haley, Grant, and Skyler) and the latest addition to the family, her first great-granddaughter Ember. She treated their birthdays as a national holiday and she always made a custom cake, whatever flavor the birthday boy or girl wanted, topped with homemade butter cream frosting in a color of their choosing, always preceded by a card that mailed to their home, always signed with XOXOXO, and always sealed with a kiss.
She loved to celebrate special occasions (especially Christmas, her wedding anniversary, her own birthday and important Boston sporting events). She loved getting dressed up for any holiday party with her siblings and in-laws (Billy, Claire, Joe, Kathy, Bob, Clare, Mary Ellen, Donald, Gina, and pre-deceased Nana, Barbara, Carol, Denis and Donna). On Christmas, she would famously bring each of her grandkids and kids (even as adults!) bags and bags of presents, many filled with deals found at Kohl’s (Her passing may singlehandedly have a negative impact on Kohl’s stock price this December)! Hers was always the first call her kids received after any Boston sports championship, dialing instantly as the games ended so she could soak in the happiness from their voices over the landline real time (on that note, with her passing, there may actually now be no one else left on earth without a cell phone …. she was never one to embrace technology). Seeing and hearing them happy, gave her happiness.
She lived by the golden rule, always treating others how she wished to be treated, and put others ahead of self. When healthy, she never missed a Sunday mass; weekend plans were made around mass times. She loved to travel around greater Boston to see area churches and she had a particular fondness for St. Anthony Shrine on Arch St. in Boston. She always lit candles for her beloved pre-deceased.
Few other women that have walked this earth have had a bigger heart. She was so compassionate and cared deeply for underprivileged especially for the elderly, the sick, the disabled, the hungry, and was a regular participant in the Walk for Hunger for many years. Lorraine leaves behind a legacy of love and will be forever cherished and her energy will be remembered fondly by all who met her.
We who knew her do not know what we have done to be worthy of being graced with relationship with a real-life walking angel, but we are all so very grateful for it, and it will shape us forever. XOXOXO. Sealed with a kiss!
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to visit with the family at the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford, Thursday, August 27th from 4 – 8 PM and again on Friday morning August 28th at 9 AM followed by a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated in St. Joseph Church, 118 High St. Medford at 10 AM. Services will conclude with burial at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford.
She requests to be overwhelmed with flowers, and also welcomes donations in her memory to the Lewy Body Dementia Association: https://lbda.org/donate