Lorraine Ho

Lorraine Ho, age 90, of Wayne, passed away peacefully at home in the presence of her loving family on Sunday, October 19, 2025.

Lorraine was born in Nanking, China. Early in her life, her family escaped to Taiwan, where she attended middle school, high school, and college. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Taiwan Normal University in 1957. After graduation, she moved to Saigon, Vietnam, where she taught English and worked as a translator for the American war correspondence press from 1958 to 1959.

Lorraine’s life changed course when she relocated to the United States to pursue a master’s degree in library science at Marywood College (now Marywood University) in Scranton, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1961.

After earning her degree, Lorraine began her career as a librarian with the former Engineering Societies Library (ESL) in New York City. It was there that she met a young engineering student named Tony Ho, who was working in the city during his summer internships from Virginia Tech. The two began dating, fell in love, and became engaged in December 1961. They married on March 16, 1963, at Corpus Christi Church on 121st Street in New York City. A reception followed at Earl Hall at Columbia University, and they honeymooned in Philadelphia.

Lorraine and Tony began married life in Hackensack, where Lorraine worked at the Johnson Public Library from 1964 to 1967. In 1967, they moved to Wayne, settling into a brand-new home where they would remain for the rest of their respective lives. In 1972, they were blessed with the birth of their son, Andrew.

Professionally, Lorraine served as librarian at the Okonite Research Library in Passaic from 1968 to 1969 and at the Clifton Public Library from 1969 to 1973. She later dedicated herself to raising Andrew, attending his sporting events, and taking him to all his Boy Scouting activities. She was also very active in the local Chinese American community and served as President of the Northern New Jersey Chinese Association (NNJCA) in the early 90s.

After retiring in 1995, Lorraine and Tony spent their later years traveling extensively, usually taking one major trip each year. Their favorite places to travel were England, France, and Hawaii, but they also loved travelling through Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Greece, China, and Tahiti. When not travelling abroad, they loved spending time together at their condominium in Wildwood Crest on the Jersey Shore.

In her spare time, Lorraine enjoyed swimming in Wildwood Crest, and at the Preakness Pool and Toms Lake in Wayne. An enthusiastic tennis fan and long-time member of the Pacquenac Tennis Club, she enjoyed both playing and watching the sport. She also loved capturing memories and was the self-appointed family photographer at all events and trips. While Tony oversaw most of the cooking, Lorraine’s specialties were her version of roast Peking duck for Thanksgiving and scallion pancakes for special occasions throughout the year.

Above all, Lorraine’s family was her greatest source of pride and joy. She adored her two grandsons, Nathan and Alex, and always looked forward to spending time with them. Known for her attention to detail, strong organizational skills, energetic personality, forthcoming nature and overall love of life, Lorraine touched the lives of many and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Lorraine was the beloved wife of Tony Ho, with whom she shared 58 years of marriage before his passing in 2021. She was the loving mother of Andrew Ho and his wife Yani of Tenafly; cherished grandmother of Nathan and Alex; dear sister of Ting Pei Lee, Ting Yu Lee, Ting Cai Lee, An Yi Lee, and Frances Lee who all predeceased her; and the beloved aunt of many nieces and nephews.