Lorraine Brazenas
(Nee Janiszewski)
Hammond

Lorraine Brazenas age 78 of Hammond, passed away suddenly on Thursday August 26, 2010 at her residence. She is survived by two daughters, Sandra Bertagnolli and Patricia (Scott) Szabo, and son Jeff (Lisa) Brazenas. Five grandchildren, Tommy Bertagnolli, Sarah Szabo, Mitch Szabo, Adam Brazenas, and Samantha Brazenas. Several nieces and nephews. Preceeded in death by her husband of 21 years, Adam Peter Brazenas, daughter Susan Osborn, and parents Edward and Mary Janiszewski. Her Memorial service will be held on Tuesday August 31, 2010 at 6.30 pm at Bocken Funeral Home, 7042 Kennedy Avenue, Hammond (Hessville). Friends are invited to meet with the family at Bocken Funeral Home on Tuesday August 31, 2010 from 3 to 7pm.
Widowed at the young age of 40, Lorraine began working in the Accounting Office at Inland Steel and continued until retirement, ensuring her children fulfilled their aspirations and completed their educations. She devoted herself to her children and later to her grandchildren for the remainder of her life. Although our pain and grief are overwhelming to us now, our cherished and loving memories of her and our time spent together, will live within us all forever. She was, for each of us, our pillar of strength, our go to person, and our source for unconditional love and support.
Lorraine gave of herself not only to us, but to whomever and whenever she was able. Until recent years she was a devoted volunteer to many organizations. She spent 14 years with Hospice at the Riley House in Munster, several years at the Nazareth Home and Carmelite Home for Children in East Chicago, IN, and St. Vincent de Paul in Hessville. In previous years she also volunteered at The Mayflower House, the Association for the Mentally Challenged and Handicapped Children and the Hammond Crisis Hotline. Generosity and compassion defined her. We want to salute our mother, our hero, our mentor. Until we meet again, we want her to know how terribly saddened we are, yet so very proud to have had her and called her our mom. Although she is gone, we realize that nothing gold can stay, and so we take our comfort knowing she will now be embraced by our father and sister who have so longed and waited for their reunion with her.
For more information you may call Bocken Funeral Home at (219)-844-1600