Lorraine Ethel DeLand (nee Saunders) — a former Office Manager at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Leesburg from 1974-97 – passed away on Feb. 16 in Lady Lake at Chatham Glen Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center. She was 85 years old.
Lorraine was born Dec. 22, 1935 in Miami at Jackson Memorial Hospital, the daughter of Berchland “Berge” Saunders and Ruby Susan Bowen.
Lorraine and her family moved to Leesburg in 1972 from Miami and raised her family for 23 years on 13th Street, right across from the Melon Patch Theatre. Later, she moved into Palmora Park and lived there from 1995 until 2017. In later years, she relocated to Bradenton to be closer to family.
Lorraine was an active and devoted member of St. Paul’s. In earlier years, she was a member of the church school board and was especially proud to be a part of the efforts to re-open St. Paul’s Catholic School in 1981.
She was a Florida “Conch” descendant through her father’s side and was quite proud of her Key West heritage. Like many Conchs in the Florida Keys, she could trace her heritage to the Bahamas, specifically Green Turtle Cay. In 2006, several family members joined her there as they visited where her ancestors once lived.
Lorraine loved spending time with her family, planning countless numbers of family events through the years. She enjoyed spending time at the beach, was very fond of her cats, was an avid collector of anything dolphin related including her favorite NFL team in Miami.
She is survived by two children, Derek DeLand (Maile) of Lady Lake and Lori Sue McLaughlin (Brian) of Palm Harbor, Fla., as well as two sisters – Sharon McParland of Leesburg and Teresa Davis of Umatilla. Lorraine is the grandmother of 12 – April, Brandy, Lee, Robin, David, Zachary, Cory, Lexi, Kaitlyn, Tristan, Jacob and Kirstyn. She is also the great-grandmother of 13.
Lorraine was predeceased by her husband Darwin, two sons, Don and David, her mother Ruby and many other relatives who are greatly missed.
The family will receive friends at Beyers Funeral Home on Friday, February 19th from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM with a Memorial Service at 5:30 PM. A mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Paul’s Catholic Church on Saturday, February 20 at 8:30 AM. Interment to follow at Tavares Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Paul’s Catholic Church or School.
