Lorraine Spence

Lorraine Beolchi Spence passed away at the University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Easton on October 17, 2014, after a long battle with heart failure. She was born in Detroit, MI, on December 23, 1919, to the late Joseph Emil Beolchi and Jeanette Kerr Beolchi. She attended the Ursuline Academy in New Rochelle, NY, and graduated from Mamaroneck High School in Mamaroneck, NY. Her career of 50 years was in women’s fashion. She was employed by William Van Buren, Associates in New York City as a resident buyer of women’s clothing. In the mid 70’s, she moved from Greenwich, CT, to Litchfield, CT, and opened her own boutique dress shop in the historic Apothecary Shop (built in 1790), on the Green in Litchfield, CT. She later moved to Southbury, CT, along with her dress shop. She also lived in Ashville, NC, and Orlando, FL, before moving to Neavitt, MD. For the past three years, she resided in Oxford, MD. She loved animals and worked with The Little Guild of St. Francis in Litchfield, CT, and was founder of Cat Haven in Southbury, CT. She had many rescued cats and dogs, but her favorite was Beau, a rescued German Shepherd, who accompanied her every day to her shop. She enjoyed many hobbies such as reading mysteries, word puzzles, decoupage, quilting, needlepoint, and crewel. She was one of the founders of the Bayside Quilters, a member of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Oxford, and a member of the Oxford Ladies Auxiliary of the Oxford Fire Department. She was preceded in death by her husband, Alexander David Spence; two sisters, Jeanette Elizabeth Baker of Berlin, NJ, and Elaine Magrath of St. Michaels, MD. She is survived by her sister, Donna B. Richards, and her husband Lewis H. Richards of Oxford; a favorite brother-in-law, Donald B. Baker of Berlin, NJ; nieces, Jean Magrath Galloway of Wilton, CT, Jeanette Baker and Donna Baker Kramer of Berlin, NJ; nephews, Donald Baker, Jr. of Bethel, CT, Richard Baker of Farmington, CT, Douglas Baker of Berlin, NJ, and William B. Magrath of Washington, DC; seven grand- nieces; three grandnephews; and two great-grandnephews. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2014, at 3 p.m. at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, P.A., 200 S. Harrison St., Easton, MD 21601. Interment will follow on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at 11 p.m.. in Kensico Cemetery, 273 Lakeview Ave., Valhalla, NY 10595. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Ascension Hermitage and Sanctuary, Inc., c/o Sister Mary, P.O. Box 143, Upper Fairmount, MD 21867.

Lorraine Spence

December 23, 1919 - October 17, 2014