Lorraine (Toussaint) Kelley, RN, 96, of Berlin, passed away on Saturday March 4, 2017 at the St. Vincent de Paul Rehab and Nursing Center. She was born in Berlin on July 28, 1920 the daughter of Arthur A. and Maria (Gagne) Toussaint and was a lifelong resident. She attended St. Regis Academy and graduated from Berlin High School with the Class of 1938 and also graduated from Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary School of Nursing in Portland, ME with the Class of 1941. Lorraine did private duty nursing in Portland before enlisting in the Army Nurse Corps, entering as a 2nd Lieutenant. She was assigned to the 96th Evacuation Hospital. Following maneuvers in the southern states, the unit left for Scotland and England in February 1944 and landed on Utah Beach June 16, 10 days after D-Day. The 96th Evac was also involved in the Battle of the Bulge. Lorraine wears the European Theatre of Operations Ribbon with Five Battle Stars, having participated in five campaigns. In December of 2001, Lorraine received The French Legion of Honor for her contribution in the fight to liberate France from the Axis Powers in World War II.
Lorraine had served as the President and Treasurer of Kelley’s Auto Supply for many years. She was a member of the Maine Eye and Ear Infirmary Alumni, the North Country Nurses Association, the VFW Post #2520, the Ryan-Scammon Post #36 American Legion in Berlin, Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge Tri State Chapter 17, St. Kieran Altar Guild, Gorham Women’s Club, the luncheon Bridge Club as she was an avid Bridge player and WIMSA-Women in Military Service. She was the co-founder of the St. Louis Hospital Auxiliary which later became the Androscoggin Valley Hospital Auxiliary and also started the original gift shop at the St. Louis Hospital.
Family includes her sons Steven Kelley and wife Suzanne of Littleton, NH and Michael Kelley and wife Susan of Milan, NH; 8 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; sister Yolande Anderson of Upper Marlboro, MD; nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her husband Philip Kelley and by her brothers Paul A. Toussaint and Leo J. Toussaint.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday March 11, 2017 at 10 AM at St. Anne Church of Good Shepherd Parish. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call at the Bryant Funeral Home, 180 Hillside Ave., Berlin on Friday from 6 to 8 PM. Donations in Lorraine’s memory may be made to NH Catholic Charities, 215 Myrtle Street, Manchester, NH 03104.