Obituary of Lorraine Camille Gruninger

Lorraine Camille Gruninger, 82, passed away peacefully surrounded by her children on November 5, 2021.

Lorraine was predeceased by her husband of 60 years John E. Gruninger Sr. and her parents Lawrence and Helen Magnarelli (Rossi).

Lorraine is survived by her six children, John (Kimberly), Michael, Brian (Dana Sovocool), Kenneth, Donna Constance (Frederick) and Linda, 17 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.  Also, sisters Julie DeCicco and Eleanor Bondur (Jim), many loving cousins and nieces and nephews.

Lorraine, a life-long resident of Syracuse, will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She loved children and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Lorraine was a 1957 graduate of Assumption Catholic Academy. After 20 years of raising her children, she resumed her career at RMSCO Insurance as a Workers Compensation claims examiner solely responsible for the Crouse Hinds and Oneida Silver accounts.  She retired at the age of 60 after establishing herself as an indispensable employee. John and Lorraine’s party celebrating 40 years of marriage and the couple’s 60th birthdays remains to this day a favorite family memory.

A beautiful bride, Lorraine married John Gruninger and they enjoyed 60 years of marriage. During their lives together they traveled extensively. They visited Italy 4 times, vacationed in Barcelona, London, Puerto Rico annually and many other cities in the United States.  When they retired, they wintered in Bradenton, Florida together for 20 years. They passed their love for the Sarasota/Bradenton area on to their children and grandchildren who visited often. Lorraine and John were fantastic hosts, showing all visitors a fabulous time while they visited. They made many friends in Bradenton and Lorraine will be deeply missed by all in that community.

Lorraine often said she lived a fairy tale life. What she meant by this is that she was constantly blessed with the gift of loving and receiving love from her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

For 11 years she volunteered in the kitchen at Francis House using her love of cooking and baking, especially her family’s favorite pies, to nourish the patients and their families during a very difficult time in their lives. She made a difference in so many lives with not only her cooking but sitting and talking to the patients and the family members as well.

Funeral Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, November 11, 2021 at Holy Family Church, Chapel Drive Fairmount. Lorraine's ashes will be interred at Assumption Cemetery alongside her loving mother and father. Calling Hours will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Edward J. Ryan & Son Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lorraine's memory to Francis House, 108 Michaels Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13208.

As my heart holds you, just one beat away, I cherish all you gave me every day ~Josh Groban