Lorraine Theresa Dyjeczynski Valitutto, 85, passed away Monday, January 14, 2019, at Beacon Place Hospice & Palliative Care.
Lorraine was born April 11, 1933, in Bayonne, NJ, daughter of Edward and Helen Dyjeczynski. Lorraine graduated from Bayonne High School and attended St Peter’s College and Seton Hall University in NJ. She studied Fashion at the Barbizon School in Union, NJ, and New York City, and Interior Design at UNC- Greensboro. In her early life, she worked in New York City as a secretary to the Regional Personnel Training Manager of Montgomery Ward & Co. After her children were on their own paths, she worked for ten years as the Graduate Student Admissions Administrator where she was awarded the first Chancellor’s Award for Dedicated Service to Graduate Students, and the Exemplary Student Support Award by the Vice-President of Fairleigh Dickenson University in Madison, NJ. Lorraine was a devoted Roman Catholic and had a strong devotion to the Blessed Mother. In High School, she was a member of the Society of the Immaculate Conception and as an adult served as a Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) teacher in Newark, NJ. Lorraine loved music and the arts and volunteered extensively with the Young Artist Opera Theater and the Greensboro Symphony Guild in Greensboro. Returning to New Jersey with her husband, she continued with the Opera at Florham at Fairleigh Dickenson University. Lorraine and her husband enjoyed serving together as President and Secretary of the Opera at Florham Board. She was always proud of her work on the beautiful Snow Ball Gala during their tenure on the board. Also, she served in many community volunteer roles including Meals on Wheels.
Lorraine was a kind and gentle spirit and a gracious hostess who loved entertaining and making all feel loved and welcomed. She will be well remembered for her generous care of family, neighbors, and friends through her beautiful cards, letters, parties, cooking, and baking.
Lorraine is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Edward Dyjeczynski (Ocean Ed) as well as her Mother and Father- in-law, Francis and Ulianna (Frank and Winnie) who lived with Lorraine and her husband from the time they were married until her in-laws passed away at the ages of 96 and 92. After her husband retired and they returned to Greensboro, her mother, Helen, lived with them in Greensboro until she passed at 96, another testament to Lorraine’s endless love and care for her family. Lorraine is survived by her husband of 60 years, Richard (Dick) John Valitutto; two sons, Richard Edward Francis Valitutto (Julene) of Greensboro; Paul Douglas Valitutto of Greensboro; four grandchildren whom she cherished, Richard Edward Francis Valitutto II, Ithaca, NY; CPT John Valitutto (Kathleen) of Ft Riley, KS; Alexander Valitutto of Charlotte; Caroline Valitutto of Denver, CO; and two great-grandsons, John and Henry of Ft Riley, KS; her loving brother-in-law, Francis Valitutto of Pinehurst; sisters-in-law, Marie Valitutto of NJ and FL, Connie White of Manasquan, NJ; and numerous loving nieces and nephews. The family will receive visitors on Monday, January 21, from 6 until 8pm, with a Rosary prayer at 7:30 pm, at Forbis & Dick Funeral Service, North Elm Street, Greensboro, NC. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St Pius X Catholic Church on Tuesday, January 22, at 11am. Interment will follow at 3:30pm at Pinelawn Memorial Park, 1105 Morganton Road, Southern, Pines, NC.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St Pius X Catholic Church, 2210 North Elm St, Greensboro, NC 27408, or Beacon Place Hospice and Palliative Care of Greensboro, 2502 Summit Ave, Greensboro, NC 27405.
