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Lorraine Super O'Neal, 89, died at home on 12/11/2010, a date not surprising given her love of numbers and symmetry! She is survived by daughter Margaret of Albuquerque; and sister Adele Genualdi of San Antonio, Texas. Lorraine was born into a Polish neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. Her father was a pharmacist, and the family lived above the drugstore. Her earliest joys were rollerskating the city streets and organizing kids' parades for any and all occasions! And sneaking chocolate bars from behind the drugstore candy counter. She graduated from Lourdes High School and Mundelein College, monumental tasks since she was also caring for her mother who was mentally ill. In her early 30s she and Adele moved to Washington, D.C., where she married Jack O'Neal. She happily became stepmom to Jack's two little boys, Sam and Jesse. Soon a daughter, Margaret came along. Jack was plagued by alcoholism and the marriage did not survive. After some years in northern New Jersey and back in Illinois, in 1973 Lorraine followed her heart (and Adele) to Albuquerque. (Many thanks to the Genualdi family for their support during a difficult transition.) Lorraine loved New Mexico and immediately appreciated its beauty. For as long as she was able, she spent every summer evening outside (usually with an ice cream cone) watching the sky well into darkness. She spent her professional career as an office manager. She loved the challenges of reaching goals and inspiring others to be their best. She earned her MBA at 62 and retired from Lovelace Medical Center two years later. She continued to work, as an independent consultant for several area hospitals. At 80, she concluded her working life at the office of Four Hills Mobile Home Park where she lived for 34 years. In retirement, she acted on a passion for literacy by volunteering as a reading tutor at Dolores Gonzales, Cochiti, and Zia elementary schools. She became active in St. Bernadette's Altar-Rosary Society, eagerly anticipating the dessert table at potlucks! And she travelled. She spoke of having a Gypsy's soul. During her lifetime, she visited most of the U.S.; Canada; Mexico; Cuba, Haiti, and the Caribbean; Ecuador; China; the Middle East; Europe and Great Britain. Margaret thanks her mother for many years of unconditional love and the lesson of a lifetime: In the end, only kindness matters. All are invited to the Rosary at Riverside Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 3:30 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial and a memorial get-together will be celebrated in early January. Please contact Riverside for details. Arrangements in care of RIVERSIDE FUNERAL HOME OF ALBUQUERQUE 225 San Mateo Blvd. NE 764-9663
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