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February 14, 2010
Services
Funeral services will be held 9:30 AM on Friday, February 19, 2010 from the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne then to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 580 Ratzer Rd., Wayne where a 10:30 AM Funeral Mass will be offered.
Friends may visit with the family on Thursday from 5-9 PM at the funeral home.
Lorraine M. Novak age 71 of Wayne died Sunday, February 14, 2010.
A few words about Lorraine …
Our mother, Lorraine Marie Novak (nee Andy), was born in Flushing and raised in the Whitestone section of Queens. Her father, Charles, was an Italian immigrant, an engineer and musician. Her mother, Alice, was a homemaker and first generation Irish American. From a young age, our mother showed an ability and passion for art that continued throughout her years, and touched almost every aspect of her life.
In 1956, she attended the Manhattan campus of Fordham University, where she met her future husband, Frederick Novak. They married in 1958, honeymooned in Bermuda, and were together for the next 51 years. They had a great marriage. They adored each other and supported each other in every way. They laughed often, lived well, and respected each other without condition.
She was a beautiful woman. A runner-up Miss Fordham in 1957 (entered only at the urging of her friends – mom was too modest for beauty contests), she had high cheek bones and a beautiful smile. She had style and grace, matched by warmth and an incredibly sweet disposition.
Our mother loved her children. She gave everything she had to us. She never raised her voice in anger and rarely punished. She was there for us throughout our lives – a constant reservoir of love and support, and sage advice. Mom used to often tell us “Life is not a dress rehearsal”, encouraging us to follow our passions and endeavors, and live each day to the fullest. When we married, she treated our spouses as her own children. As our families grew, she gave all the help she could at every opportunity. Her Christmas shopping began in the summer and involved shopping marathons with her daughter, lists, charts, graphs, receipts, and notebooks. She cooked massive amounts of Lasagna during the Holidays – literally hundreds of pounds – and made sure that everyone took home a tray. She hosted every holiday, made Sunday dinners for the family, served her legendary meatballs, and prepared sausage and peppers for every occasion. She loved it all.
Our mother believed in the value of friendship. She was open-minded and saw only the best in everyone. Her friends came from all walks of life. Every year, our parents would rent a summer house down at the Jersey Shore, and everyone had an open invitation. On the weekends, the house was packed. At times, we had 15 or 20 people sleeping in a four bedroom house. All were welcomed – friends, neighbors and co-workers. Mom put up with surf boards, waters skis, and obnoxiously loud speed boats. She embraced it all. She enjoyed life, and she enjoyed people.
There is so much to remember about these years. Mom traveled to Italy, Greece, England, France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Egypt. She took cruises with our father. Carted boatloads of kids up to West Point to watch football games. Drove a T-Top Corvette. She skied with her family, and golfed with our father and friends. She embarked on a remarkable variety of careers. She taught in schools, tutored students, and taught religious education at home. She worked in restaurants. She became a travel agent, and eventually the co-owner of Nutley Travel Services.
Above all, Mom was an artist. In the 70s, she volunteered her time teaching art classes at Immaculate Heart of Mary. When the last of her children entered school full time – she went back to school and graduated with a degree in art from Montclair State College. She never stopped learning and took art classes all her life – sculpture, photography, painting, and drawing. She had great appreciation for all forms and all styles of art, and often visited the New York museums and art galleries. She turned a vacant bedroom into her art studio, and held art classes for her grandchildren. She did not paint to be recognized or complimented. She painted solely because it made her happy, a happiness that is still felt through the drawings and paintings that hang in our homes.
Later in life, her grandchildren became her everything. She treated them as she had treated us – patiently and nurturing, never denying any request. She would baby-sit at a moments notice. She hosted sleepovers, made popcorn and watched endless hours of children’s movies. Her grandchildren were her greatest source of joy. She loved them all so much.
Our mother had Alzheimer’s. Our father cared for her through those difficult times. Meeting her every need, and making her as comfortable as possible. She stayed at home, and in familiar surroundings. She spent time with her family. She passed in her own bed.
But even as the disease became full, she continued to ask us about our children, tell us that we looked great, and compliment our spouses. She would light up at the site of a grandchild, as if her kindness had been so complete, it had become involuntary and instinctive. In remembering our mom, Lorraine, we can’t help but celebrate the special light in her eyes that all who met her and knew her shared - her beauty, her warmth and kindness, her gentle spirit and open arms, and her unconditional love.
We will all miss her dearly.
______________________
Lorraine M. Novak age 71 of Wayne died Sunday, February 14, 2010.
She was a resident of the Packanack Lake section of Wayne for the past fifty years and owner of Nutley Travel Services before her retirement in 2003.
She was the beloved wife of fifty-one years to Frederick Novak; beloved mother of Craig Novak and his wife Sherri of Montville, Linda Kruger and her husband Thomas of Towaco, James Novak and his wife Abigail of Pompton Lakes, Robert Novak and his wife Susan of Allendale and Christopher Novak and his wife Katherine of Allendale.
She was adored by her eleven grandchildren, T.J., Lela, Danielle, Sofia, Matthew, Luke, Gregory, Drew, Jimmy, Ryan and Kelly.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Alzheimer’s Assoc., 400 Morris Ave., Suite 251, Denville, NJ 07834 would be appreciated.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Funeral services will be held 9:30 AM on Friday, February 19, 2010 from the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne then to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 580 Ratzer Rd., Wayne where a 10:30 AM Funeral Mass will be offered.
Friends may visit with the family on Thursday from 5-9 PM at the funeral home.
February 14, 2010
Services
Funeral services will be held 9:30 AM on Friday, February 19, 2010 from the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne then to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 580 Ratzer Rd., Wayne where a 10:30 AM Funeral Mass will be offered.
Friends may visit with the family on Thursday from 5-9 PM at the funeral home.
Lorraine M. Novak age 71 of Wayne died Sunday, February 14, 2010.
A few words about Lorraine …
Our mother, Lorraine Marie Novak (nee Andy), was born in Flushing and raised in the Whitestone section of Queens. Her father, Charles, was an Italian immigrant, an engineer and musician. Her mother, Alice, was a homemaker and first generation Irish American. From a young age, our mother showed an ability and passion for art that continued throughout her years, and touched almost every aspect of her life.
In 1956, she attended the Manhattan campus of Fordham University, where she met her future husband, Frederick Novak. They married in 1958, honeymooned in Bermuda, and were together for the next 51 years. They had a great marriage. They adored each other and supported each other in every way. They laughed often, lived well, and respected each other without condition.
She was a beautiful woman. A runner-up Miss Fordham in 1957 (entered only at the urging of her friends – mom was too modest for beauty contests), she had high cheek bones and a beautiful smile. She had style and grace, matched by warmth and an incredibly sweet disposition.
Our mother loved her children. She gave everything she had to us. She never raised her voice in anger and rarely punished. She was there for us throughout our lives – a constant reservoir of love and support, and sage advice. Mom used to often tell us “Life is not a dress rehearsal”, encouraging us to follow our passions and endeavors, and live each day to the fullest. When we married, she treated our spouses as her own children. As our families grew, she gave all the help she could at every opportunity. Her Christmas shopping began in the summer and involved shopping marathons with her daughter, lists, charts, graphs, receipts, and notebooks. She cooked massive amounts of Lasagna during the Holidays – literally hundreds of pounds – and made sure that everyone took home a tray. She hosted every holiday, made Sunday dinners for the family, served her legendary meatballs, and prepared sausage and peppers for every occasion. She loved it all.
Our mother believed in the value of friendship. She was open-minded and saw only the best in everyone. Her friends came from all walks of life. Every year, our parents would rent a summer house down at the Jersey Shore, and everyone had an open invitation. On the weekends, the house was packed. At times, we had 15 or 20 people sleeping in a four bedroom house. All were welcomed – friends, neighbors and co-workers. Mom put up with surf boards, waters skis, and obnoxiously loud speed boats. She embraced it all. She enjoyed life, and she enjoyed people.
There is so much to remember about these years. Mom traveled to Italy, Greece, England, France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Egypt. She took cruises with our father. Carted boatloads of kids up to West Point to watch football games. Drove a T-Top Corvette. She skied with her family, and golfed with our father and friends. She embarked on a remarkable variety of careers. She taught in schools, tutored students, and taught religious education at home. She worked in restaurants. She became a travel agent, and eventually the co-owner of Nutley Travel Services.
Above all, Mom was an artist. In the 70s, she volunteered her time teaching art classes at Immaculate Heart of Mary. When the last of her children entered school full time – she went back to school and graduated with a degree in art from Montclair State College. She never stopped learning and took art classes all her life – sculpture, photography, painting, and drawing. She had great appreciation for all forms and all styles of art, and often visited the New York museums and art galleries. She turned a vacant bedroom into her art studio, and held art classes for her grandchildren. She did not paint to be recognized or complimented. She painted solely because it made her happy, a happiness that is still felt through the drawings and paintings that hang in our homes.
Later in life, her grandchildren became her everything. She treated them as she had treated us – patiently and nurturing, never denying any request. She would baby-sit at a moments notice. She hosted sleepovers, made popcorn and watched endless hours of children’s movies. Her grandchildren were her greatest source of joy. She loved them all so much.
Our mother had Alzheimer’s. Our father cared for her through those difficult times. Meeting her every need, and making her as comfortable as possible. She stayed at home, and in familiar surroundings. She spent time with her family. She passed in her own bed.
But even as the disease became full, she continued to ask us about our children, tell us that we looked great, and compliment our spouses. She would light up at the site of a grandchild, as if her kindness had been so complete, it had become involuntary and instinctive. In remembering our mom, Lorraine, we can’t help but celebrate the special light in her eyes that all who met her and knew her shared - her beauty, her warmth and kindness, her gentle spirit and open arms, and her unconditional love.
We will all miss her dearly.
______________________
Lorraine M. Novak age 71 of Wayne died Sunday, February 14, 2010.
She was a resident of the Packanack Lake section of Wayne for the past fifty years and owner of Nutley Travel Services before her retirement in 2003.
She was the beloved wife of fifty-one years to Frederick Novak; beloved mother of Craig Novak and his wife Sherri of Montville, Linda Kruger and her husband Thomas of Towaco, James Novak and his wife Abigail of Pompton Lakes, Robert Novak and his wife Susan of Allendale and Christopher Novak and his wife Katherine of Allendale.
She was adored by her eleven grandchildren, T.J., Lela, Danielle, Sofia, Matthew, Luke, Gregory, Drew, Jimmy, Ryan and Kelly.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Alzheimer’s Assoc., 400 Morris Ave., Suite 251, Denville, NJ 07834 would be appreciated.
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