Submitted by: Dan Rich

Lorraine M. Sowka

July 4, 1944 - Nov. 30, 2007

South Bend Tribune 12/3/2007
NORTH LIBERTY - Lorraine M. Sowka, 63, of North Liberty, passed away at 6:50 p.m. Nov. 30, in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, after an extended illness. Lorraine was born on July 4, 1944, in LaPorte, and resided in the Michiana area her lifetime.

On Nov. 14, 1998, in Las Vegas, NV, she married Frank C. Sowka who survives. Also surviving are a daughter, Danyell C. (Nick) Focosi of South Bend; a stepdaughter, Jayme L. Sowka of Indianapolis; a son, James H. (Michelle) Baker of South Bend; her mother, Anna Cooper of North Liberty; a brother, Dean J. (Becky) Cooper of South Bend; and grandchildren, Ellsie Vitale and Kirsten Baker, whom she loved and cherished.

Mrs. Sowka retired from Raco Corp. in South Bend after 22 years of service. She retired on Jan. 12, 1998 due to her illness. Lorraine was a wonderful loving wife, mother and grandmother who cherished her family as they did her. She will be sadly missed, not only by her loving family, also everyone who had the opportunity to know her during her life journey. The family requests that all memorial contributions be made to Pet Refuge Inc, 2300 W. 5th St., Mishawaka, IN. Lorraine's hobbies were, sewing, quilting, baking and most of all, watching Notre Dame Football. She admired Notre Dame Football since she was a little girl.

Visitation hours will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4 in Hanley and Sons "Southwest Chapel" Funeral Home located at West Ireland Road/Indiana 23, South Bend. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday Dec. 5 in the funeral home, with Pastor Jennifer Johns-Gooding officiating. Burial to follow at Westlawn Cemetery, North Liberty. The HANLEY & Sons "Southwest Chapel" Funeral Home handled arrangements and services and extends its deepest sympathy and heartfelt prayers to the Sowka family.