Lorraine Zahner

Lorraine Zahner (nee Grabowski) age 84 of Wanaque, formerly of Pompton Plains passed at home on Thursday, October 15, 2020.

She was born in Passaic to Alexander and Tillie Grabowski. She was raised in Clifton where she graduated from Clifton High School with the Class of 1953.  After marriage she lived in Clifton, Wayne, and Pompton Plains before moving to Wanaque Reserve in Wanaque.

In her younger years she worked at Meyer Brothers Store in Paterson and as a waitress in a diner.  She didn't work outside the home after marriage until the kids were older, when she turned her love of garage sales into her own business - a second hand store called The Thrift Shop on Browertown Road in West Paterson. She truly loved that store.

For many years she dedicated herself to raising her four children. She was always a fixture at her children's activities and sporting events. In her later years she loved babysitting her grandchildren.  All fondly remember her high energy babysitting where she would help them do crafts, read books, take day trips to the park, and make tents in the house among many other activities.  On special occasions she even dressed up as Big Bird or Snoopy. When you were with "Gram", there was no sitting still.  Her love of activity translated into her adult social life as well.  She was always hosting parties for which she did all the cooking but it didn't stop there.  She knew how to make these get togethers a lot of fun.  She organized parades, contests, quizzes, charades and all kinds of fun events. Her home also had an open door policy, and neighbors and relatives were always stopping by unannounced for a quick cup of coffee.  When not entertaining, she was on the phone for hours.  Her caring and welcoming personality was the glue that kept her immediate family, extended family, extended-extended family, church family, and friends' family close to her.  For many years she bowled but had a tough time breaking 100 where it seemed she was there more for the social aspects than the sport itself.  

Lorraine and Charles' first meeting and courtship is filled with love and persistence - on Charles' part.  He first eyed Lorraine when she was wearing white buck shoes, red knee socks, and Bermuda shorts. He didn't get to talk to Lorraine that day but their paths would cross months later on a blind date.  When Lorraine first laid eyes upon Charles she groaned to her friends about the nerd she had been set up with.  He was persistent and when he finally worked up the nerve to ask Lorraine for a kiss she just stared back at him with an, I can't believe this guy, look.  Eventually he did get that kiss and Lorraine soon fell in love. Lorraine's brothers liked Charles because they heard he was studying to be an engineer and perhaps they could have the good fortune to get a ride on his train someday.  Their first date was on June 11, 1953 and they married on June 11, 1955 at the Holy Assumption Russian Orthodox Church in Clifton and honeymooned at the Pocono Mountain Inn.  They enjoyed a loving, caring, and giving marriage of fifty-nine years before Charles' passing in February of 2014.

Lorraine was an active member of the Pequannock Reformed Church in Wayne for many years.  At the church she served in many capacities including being President of the Evening Circle, involved with the Couples Club, served as an Elder, was always hard at work at the church's Soup Luncheons, and loved supervising the Haggle Table at the Christmas Fair. She was dedicated to her faith and enjoyed all aspects of the church's faith based activities.

Lorraine (Grabowski) Zahner was the beloved wife of the late Charles Zahner (d. February 15, 2014); devoted mother of Diane Barany and her husband Harry of Pequannock, Richard Zahner and his wife Cheryl of Schenectady, NY, Steven Zahner and his wife Denice of Pompton Plains, and Daniel Zahner and his wife Cindy of Pompton Plains; cherished grandmother of Dana, Timothy, Allen, Emily, Harrison, Mitchell, Stefanie, Michele, Samuel, Joseph, Rebecca, and Jennifer; dear sister of the late Alan and Robert Grabowski.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the American Cancer Society would be greatly appreciated.