Lorraine B. (Tessier) Anderson, 87, of Dracut, passed away surrounded by her loved ones on Friday, October 9, 2026, at Nashua Post Acute Care in Nashua, after a courageous seven-year journey with multiple myeloma. She was the beloved wife of the late John A. Anderson.
Born in Lowell on July 30, 1939, Lorraine was the daughter of the late Valmore R. Tessier and the late Beatrice (Brodeur) Tessier. She grew up in Lowell, attending St. Patrick School and the Butler School before going on to Lowell High School. She later trained as a hairdresser at Newton’s Academy in Lowell.
On June 30, 1957, Lorraine married the love of her life, John. Together they built their home in Dracut and began their life together there. She went on to call Dracut home for more than 50 years. Lorraine and John shared 62 years of marriage until his passing on December 7, 2019. For fifteen of those years, she lovingly cared for John through his journey with Parkinson’s disease, showing the devotion that defined her.
Lorraine began her working life at Grace Shoe before joining Honeywell, where she worked as a secretary. She retired from Honeywell, but then went on to work at Aotco Metal Finishing until she retired for good at 70 years old.
Lorraine had a natural gift with children. As a young woman, she babysat and cared for the children of family and friends. In her younger days she also loved roller skating.
Lorraine took great pride in her appearance. She loved her makeup, and she was always the most beautiful woman in the room. She loved making an entrance and loved it when people noticed. She was a devoted shopper with a weakness for handbags, wallets, leather goods, and shoes. Some of her happiest outings were trips into Boston to the Jewelers Building in Downtown Crossing. She had exquisite taste and a real talent for interior house design. Lorraine loved people, and nothing made her happier than going out to eat with family and friends. She stayed sharp her whole life, always remembering everything and everyone. Above all, she adored her family, and her most treasured times were those spent with her grandchildren.
Throughout her illness, Lorraine was lovingly cared for by her daughter, Susan, her son-in-law, Graham, and her sisters, who were by her side every step of the way, just as her sisters had been there to help when John was ill. The family also wishes to thank her caretaker, Janet; Dr. Raymond Comenzo, her oncologist at Tufts; and his nurse, “Queen Flo.” Lorraine was always in such good hands, and the family is deeply grateful for their dedication. They also extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Nashua Post Acute Care and to Home Health and Hospice Care, and to Kevin Rudy and Josh Taylor, for all the work they did at the house.
Lorraine is survived by her daughter, Susan Catchpole, and her husband, Graham, of Nashua. She also leaves her three grandchildren, Kira Klish of Portsmouth, and Alex and Nicola Catchpole of Nashua. She is survived by her sisters, Pauline Petropoulos of Lowell, Donna Gomez and her husband, Frank, of Lowell, and Ruth Gordon and her husband, Eric, of Lowell; her brother-in-law, Dennis Rudy; and many nieces and nephews. She also leaves her best friend, Claire Nagle, with whom she shared a friendship that began when they were 13 years old. She leaves her dear friends Angie, Carol, the Kubit and Montminy Families who always made time to visit her. She also leaves Ida Little, her roommate at Nashua Post Acute Care. Ida would often be holding Lorraine’s hand when the family came to visit, and they lovingly called her their angel. In addition to her husband, Lorraine was predeceased by her siblings, Claire Gauthier, Priscilla Szelog, Valmore Tessier, and Gloria Rudy. She was the sister-in-law of the late James Petropoulos, Richard Gauthier, and Henry Szelog. She was also predeceased by John’s siblings, Clifford, Robert, Richard, Gloria, Raymond, Shirley, June, Earl, Eileen, Philip, and Charlie.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours on Friday, October 16, 2026, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at McDonough Funeral Home, 14 Highland Street, Lowell, MA 01852. A service of remembrance will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, 96 Riverneck Road, Chelmsford.
Please consider a donation in her memory to: The Jimmy Fund, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168 or online at: https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/Donation2?df_id=2101&mfc_pref=T&2101.donation=form1
Arrangements are under the care and direction of McDonough Funeral Home.