Lorraine (Down) Wild passed away in her home in Timnath, Colorado, early on July 5th, 2023. She is survived by her husband Chris, her children Alec, Braden and Taylor, her parents Don and Joan, and her brothers Chris, Jeff, Kevin and Steve.
Lorraine's life was full of unending love and compassion for her family and those around her. She was a champion for those who felt left out or were considered less than by society. She had a passionate heart for seeing what people needed and helped however she could. Her greatest passion, though, was her children. Her journey to have children was one marked with struggle and pain, but her desire and strength were persistent. From the moment she found out she was pregnant with triplets, they immediately became her greatest joy. Lorraine gave everything of herself to make sure her children were safe, loved, and supported. As her children started to move out of the house, she used her extra time and energy helping teenagers who were aging out of the foster care system. Her heart was always thinking of others.
Her home, always kept neat and clean, was open to friends, to family, and to anyone who needed a meal, a place to stay, or a conversation. She loved to host holidays and parties, always ensuring whoever was being celebrated felt loved and seen with her eye for detail and personal touches.
Lorraine created a light in this world that touched so many, more than she ever realized. Her unwavering faith in Jesus and her overflowing generosity permeated each and every one of her actions — she truly was an example for us all.
Memorial suggestions:
Lorraine's long-held passion was finding ways to help foster kids transition and access the services they need to thrive. In lieu of flowers, you can make a donation to an organization she was passionate about supporting: True North Young Adult Services in Boulder, Colorado
https://www.truenorthyas.org/
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Lorraine's life:
The second of four siblings, Lorraine experienced the ups and "Downs" of being the only girl. Growing up in New York, she was a very active gymnast and accomplished high school track team member. Lorraine loved the physicality of competition and being part of a team. She enjoyed spending summers being a camp counselor in Florida and eventually her family moved to Colorado for her senior year of high school. In Colorado, she learned to blend her preppy New York fashion style with the laid-back style in Colorado, and found a unique way to be herself.
Her wild side stood out in those days, caught renting a car underage and joy riding around town. She attended Colorado State University and obtained her Bachelor's in Psychology. While at CSU, Lorraine joined Kappa Delta sorority and found her long-lost twin in Jeanine, who shared the same birthday as well as many other life similarities and with whom she forged a life-long friendship. In her junior year, she attended a party hosted by her good friend, Sue, where she met her soon to be husband Chris. He noticed a teary-eyed Lorraine who had just broken up with her boyfriend, and she noticed him noticing her and they both made a mental note to meet in the near future.
They soon fell in love, adopted a beloved cocker spaniel puppy named Spanky, got married in Fort Collins and shortly after started a new life together in Westminster, CO.
Lorraine became a social worker for Adams County, helping to protect children and keeping families together. She started to battle a number of illnesses that required her to focus on her health and ultimate goal of having children. After a series of miscarriages, much effort and persistence, Lorraine gave birth to triplets - Alec, Braden and Taylor - thus starting the next chapter of her life.
Braden was born extremely medically fragile, requiring many hospital stays, appointments and surgeries over the course of the next 18 years. From that day forward, Lorraine was Braden's fiercest advocate. She spent every waking moment educating herself on the intricacies of Braden's medical conditions, allowing her to protect him from a medical system that didn't believe he had the ability to thrive. Through her advocacy, he is now a healthy young adult.
In-between the chaos of caring for Braden and her own medical challenges, Lorraine loved to watch her children try new things, figure out their passions, and explore the world. She was always ready to sign them up for a new activity, to help fund a trip or camp, or to share her love of shopping with them.
One of her greatest joys was the proud year where she got to attend all three of her children's college graduations as a culmination of her love, dedication and care she had for them. As her health declined in the last year of her life, she had the joy to attend her son Braden's wedding and get to reconnect with all her family and loved ones. She lived out the remainder of time at home with her husband and son. Today we rejoice that she is without pain and wrapped in the arms of her Heavenly Father.