Mrs. Lorraine L. Pate

Described by all who knew her as “a fine example of a life well lived”, Lorraine Loretta (Giroux) Pate passed from this life last week at 101 years old. For those of us lucky enough to call her Mom, Grandma, Auntie Lur, friend or neighbor, we got to know a genuinely sweet and caring woman who always had a warm and ready smile for all. It’s hard to put into words all the things that were the essence of Lorraine, but these words stand out: nurturing, devout, creative, adventurous, inventive, ambitious and a culinary genius! Born August 4, 1924, to Wilfred H. and Alma (LaChance) Giroux, Lorraine grew up in the Fairview section of Chicopee, MA with her three brothers: Roland, Donald and Robert. Their home abutted Westover Air Force Base. As fate would have it, one day Lorraine met a handsome young airman named George W. Pate. Long story short, George and Lorraine were married for 70 years until George’s passing November 2020. George and Lorraine enjoyed a great marriage together. They raised three wonderful kids – Marie, Peggy and Tommy – mostly while living in Lenox. They were a favorite among their nieces and nephews. They adored their four grandchildren. George and Lorraine called many places in the US home over the span of their marriage. They retired young and thoroughly enjoyed their new role as world travelers. In their later years, George and Lorraine became the quintessential snowbirds dividing their time between Venice, FL and Centerville (Cape Cod), MA. Needless to say, Lorraine’s long life brought her some loss. She was pre-deceased by her parents, her brothers, her spouse and her son-in-law Terry Field. Lorraine was a proud and devout catholic. She once said that she thought the reason she lived so long was because God didn’t want her. We, who knew her well, knew that nothing could be farther from the truth. She had a very powerful relationship with God. To put it simply, if there are direct flights to heaven you can be sure Lorraine Pate had a first-class ticket. Lorraine leaves behind a very sad but grateful family; daughter Marie Field of Lenox, MA, daughter Margaret Pate (Dan Griffiths) of West Brookfield, MA and son Thomas Pate (Judy Toy) of West Roxbury, MA. She leaves behind her beloved four grandchildren: Kevin Griffiths, Morgan Griffiths, Marc Griffiths and Maegan Pate and her great granddaughter Ayla Griffiths. Being the last of her generation, many nephews and nieces share our grief and sorrow. We will miss her essence as we start this holiday season – especially her sense of humor and her exceptional cooking. We will cry over her loss but not because we despair but because we loved her so deeply. Go with God Mom. Give Dad a hug for us. To celebrate Lorraine’s life, there will be a funeral mass at St. Ann’s Church in Lenox at 10am Tuesday, November 25th. A graveside ceremony will take place at a later date at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. In lieu of flowers, please consider giving a donation to the charity of your choice or your local food bank. Take every opportunity to give your loved ones a hug

Mrs. Lorraine L. Pate

August 4, 1924 - November 13, 2025