Lorraine Avis Hannon, age 84 years, of Piscataway, NJ, died peacefully on Thursday, August 13, 2020 at Care One at Somerset, Bridgewater, NJ.

Born at Suffern Hospital, Suffern NY on January 15, 1936, daughter of the late Charles Arlington De Nike and Cora Edna Jackson, she had lived in Piscataway for the last thirteen years, having been raised in Spring Valley. NY and living for many years in Plainfield, NJ.

Graduating high school in Spring Valley, NY, later in life Lorraine would attend and graduate from Livingston College, Rutgers University with a degree in social work. For many years she worked for the State of New Jersey Division of Youth and Family Services, as well as worked for a peiod of time in the juvenile division of the Plainfield, NJ Police Department.

Always a trailblazer, Lorraine was the first African-American in Rockland County, NY, to work in the bank, behind the window of which she was very proud.

She loved cooking, knitting, gardening, reading and watching MSNBC. She frequently called herself a ‘free-spirit’ and you always knew where you stood with Lorraine, as she never held anything back.

Family was extremely important to her, and she spent a good deal of time vacationing with them, cooking out, going to Jazz concerts, festivals, wine tasting, and taking her grandkids for hay rides, pumpkin and apple picking, and getting home made cider and donuts with them.

Being a spit-fire was a badge of honor for Lorraine, and she will be sorely missed.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her formers spouses, William (Bill) St. Clair and Julius Hannon.

Surviving are her children and their spouses, Monique St. Claire and Thomas Charles, Dorian St. Clair and Gerald Stanley, and Lisa St. Clair; her sister, Arline Russell; her grandchildren, Jeffrey Cornelius, Taylor Charles and Katie Rollins, Taylor Charles, Stephan Charles, Arianna Charles, Bradley St. Clair, Marcus Hamilton, Jordan Hamilton, and Taliya Stanley; her nephews, Alvin, Derrick, and Alini; several extended family members; and many dear friends.

Graveside services followed by green burial will take place on Monday, August 17, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. at Rosemont Cemetery, Route 519, Delaware Township, NJ, under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ 08822.

Everyone is asked to begin to arrive at the cemetery on Monday beginning at 8:45 a.m. Please remember masks are required as is social distancing. Kindly follow the directions of the Wright & Ford Care Team Family Ambassadors upon arrival.

Please visit Lorraine’s permanent memorial site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a memorial candle, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her honor may be made to Meharry Medical College, whose mission is to improve the health and healthcare of minority and underserved communities. Donations may be mailed here: Gift Management Services, Meharry Medical College, Division of Institutional Advancement, 1005 Dr. D. B. Todd, Jr. Blvd., Nashville, Tennessee 37208-3599 or sent online by visiting HERE

____________________________

Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”