Lorraine Adelle VanDeMark
September 06, 1931 - April 24, 2011
She held closest and never wavered from her faith
By Adelle Tilton, Lorraine's eldest daughter
Lorraine Adelle Osterhout was born on September 6, 1931 in Spokane, Washington. From the beginning, she did things in her own time and her birth in Spokane was not a planned event. Her parents were moving from Moscow, Idaho to Seattle, and she decided to enter the world two weeks early.
Lorraine was born into a family as the youngest. Her brother Don was 17 years older and dubbed her "Caboose," a nickname that she cherished. Her sister Doreen was two years older than her. She loved to recount tales from her childhood years growing up in the Wallingford District of Seattle and often said no one ever had a happier childhood. Lorraine graduated from Lincoln High School in Seattle at the age of 16 and went on to create a fulfilling and active life.
Lorraine began her adult life, working for a stock brokerage company right out of high school and met Ronald Eichhorn in 1953. Before they met, Ron often commented that he had seen her photograph on her parent's mantle, and decided he was going to "marry that girl." On November 24, 1954, she broke a lot of hearts when they married.
She continued to work at the stock brokerage firm until the birth of her first child, Adelle Renee, in 1955. At that time, she became a full time mother and was very involved in school activites as well as a leader in the Camp Fire Girls organization. Except for a brief stint as the school secretary for an elementary grade school in the Edmonds/Lynnwood area of Washington State, she was a stay-at-home mom.
Lorraine's second child, a beautiful daughter named Claudia Eileen, was born in 1965. Three years later, her son Seth Ronald, was born on the same date as Claudia. She remained a stay-at-home mom and was very active in the lives of all three of her children. Her first grandchild, Laura was born in 1976 and grew up with Claudia and Seth. Lorraine was named "Mubber" by Laura and that name stuck until death; to many people she was always Mubber. She thought of the unusual name as a unique and precious badge of honor that her granddaughter had bestowed upon her.
In the late 70's she remarried Robert Dressel. They made their home in Bellevue, Washington, and enjoyed a happy and active life together. At that time Lorraine was the office manager for the Evergreen Safety Council. As Bob was a board member at the Council, they were very involved both professionally and socially with various activities associated with the Council's work. They enjoyed attending the opera and ballet performances and traveling around the United States. In September of 1987 Bob passed away due to a cancer he had been battling during the last year of their marriage. She left her employment at the Council shortly thereafter and began a new career as the manager of Bellevue Audiology Associates.
Later in 1987 her second grandchild, Claudia's first child was born. As the oldest grandson Kevin was a delight to his grandmother and they remained close throughout her life. Grace and Aaron, were soon to follow, born to Adelle, and D.J., her only great-granchild, was born soon after to Laura. Seth's children Brielle, Kaleb and Isaiah were born a few years later and her family was complete. She loved talking about her grandchildren and their accomplishments, unabashedly bragging about each of them.
In 1995, she remarried Ivol Van De Mark and they made their home in Camano Island, Washington. She continued to work and was the office manager at Bellevue Audiology until her retirement shortly after her marriage to Ivol. She wished to spend more time with her family and enjoyed her time at home, spending free time reading, doing some knitting, and visiting grandchildren.
Of all the things Lorraine loved, the thing she held closest and never wavered from was her faith. She had a strong belief in God and believed in holding Jesus Christ as the center of her beliefs and life structure. Her faith had been a strong part of her childhood and she was one of the few people who never doubted and never questioned. She loved the special people and things in her life and maintained an air of quiet dignity and class.
Lorraine's health began to decline in 2009, and she left this world to be with the Lord on Easter Sunday of 2011. As it was with her birth, she left as a lady in her own time and way. Lorraine touched everyone she met and her memory will remain bright, safe with those she loved best.
FUNERAL INFORMATION
A private family graveside burial service was held Tuesday April 26th.
Memorial
The Lord is my Shepherd, 23rd Psalm
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name' sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: For thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies;
Thou annointest my head with oil; My cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
In my Father's house are many rooms, John 14:2-4
In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.