Loraine S Degerdon

Loraine S. Degerdon (Hewitt), 76, longtime resident of Ridgewood, passed away May 16, 2022. Beloved mother of Michelle Touw (Scott Akins), and Michael Touw (Kristee Doerfler), and loving grandmother of Matthew Akins (Miranda), and Adam Akins. Devoted sister of Helen Schoenknecht (Karl) and George Hewitt, (Nilda Rodriguez). She was a long time friend and companion of Bill Fanares. Loraine is a 1963 graduate of Ridgewood High School, a graduate of Trenton State College and a parishioner of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, where she was a member of Cornerstone. Loraine taught ESL at Ridgewood Library and volunteered at Family Promise of Bergen County in Ridgewood. Funeral Mass will be May 24, 2022, 10:00 AM at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Ridgewood, with interment to follow in Maryrest, Mahwah. In lieu of flowers, donations to Valley Hospital Foundation or Family Promise would be appreciated. For more information go to feeneyfuneralhome.com.

Laurie was an integral part of a family of first cousins who were closer than many siblings. With her sister and brother she shared a childhood with her first cousins Thomas and Dennis Murphy, April & John Puchis. Geographic closeness accounted for some of the relationship, but it was the sharing of holiday and social conclaves from birth to adulthood that accounted for that intimacy and harmony. Aunts, Uncles and parents gathered around shared meals melded a greater family unit that has endured into subsequent generations. The sheer joy of those family gatherings over many decades created special memories that Laurie will always dwell in.  

Loraine was a teacher but also a perpetual student. She was always reading, sometimes deep subjects that would bore others but she found intriguing. Always open to new experiences she traveled widely even while battling Cancer. Her enormous strength overcame all obstacles in pursuit of her many interests.

Laurie was our Sunshine, she made us happy when skies were gray. She'll never know how much we loved her. Our sunshine has been taken away.

The service will be live-streamed on Our Lady of Mount Carmel's website.