Lorraina Rose Arca

Lorraina Rose Arca-Devoted Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Gardener of Life

Lorraina Rose Arca was born February 18, 1932 in Star Lake, New York. Daughter of French-Canadian Immigrants Henry and Mabel Lago. Lorraina passed away on November 19, 2024; she was 92 years young. Lorraina was the oldest in her family, and she is survived by 1 sister (Maxine Behrman), and was predeceased by three other siblings (Angelina Dover, Joan Ryder, and Wayne Lago).

Lorraina was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and fondly referred to as “Mommy.” With her beautiful blue eyes, and her warm smile, she stole the hearts of many. While working at Fort Drum Army Base, she caught the eye of Lieutenant Paul Arca. She married Paul Michael Arca on May 12, 1956. From this union, Lorraina gave birth to 9 children: Vince (married to Anne Duryea Arca), Alan, Justin, Victor (Married to Ginny Dormitzer Arca), Julian, Charmaine (married to Chris Bacon), Lorraine (married to Jon Goldstein), Adrienne, and Chris Arca.

Lorraina had 11 grandchildren: Jennifer Arca Fishburn (married to Chris Fishburn), Carmine, Nick, & Tony Arca [Vince’s children]; Patrice, Grace, & Katya Arca [Victor’s children]; Alex & Kyle Bacon [Charmaine’s children]; and Tyler & Jake Goldstein [Lorraine’s children]. She had 4 great-grandchildren: Caesar Chaves [Patrice’s child]; and Emma, Alex & Sam Fishburn [Jennifer’s children].

Lorraina was a small petite woman, but her effect was huge. Lorraina was more than just a pretty face. She was a humble, quiet, patient, kind, selfless, strong woman. She tirelessly dedicated her life to raising her nine children; how she managed to do this is nothing short of a miracle! But she did (just like a saint), and did it with grace, constantly nurturing, loving, and caring for all of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren! She was a firm believer in Vitamin C; always telling her children when she first heard them start to sniffle in the winter: “You better get yourself 500 milligrams of Vitamin C right away!”

She taught her children to help one another and to share what they had with each other. To somehow take what they had and make it work, to not complain, but to get up and go, get the work done. Even in harsh weather - of which she certainly experienced many cold snowy days growing up in Upstate New York. She would sometimes scoff at folks in Baltimore who were freaking out over a little snow saying “They don’t know what snow really is!” She worked outside in her rose and flower gardens, and loved to watch things grow. She believed in the value of going out to the garden and getting on your hands and knees to get rid of the weeds so that the flowers could grow (even in the harshest climates). 

Even after Lorraina raised her family, she continued to mother and nurture the lives of so many others. She worked many years caring for infants and young children in the nursery at the Church across from the 7-Eleven store. Sometimes watching over dozens of screaming babies and children by herself. She had a gift for managing and calming the most difficult and mentally challenged ones.

At home, Lorraina would often open up pop-up playpens in the living room while watching over her grandkids, her great grandkids, and other people’s kids. Frustrated parents, who had no one else to watch their kids, would sometimes just drop them off to "Mrs. Arca's" care. It really didn’t matter to her whose kids they were, she kind of adopted every child, loved them unconditionally, and considered us all family. 

She loved children and loved to feed them. She was well known for her cookie baking and culinary skills. From her chocolate chip, peanut butter oatmeal, gingerbread Christmas cookies to her cinnamon buns, apple pies, black bottoms, and angel food strawberry cakes; her home always smelled like a bakery. People came from afar to sample the goods. Out-of-town people would mail pounds of butter and other ingredients to her, so she would make cookies and later mail them back. She would also fill up tins of her different cookies and send them out to friends and relatives as Christmas gifts. She would collect and distribute her recipes, but somehow when others made them, they never tasted the same. She made everything from scratch and must have had some secret ingredients (like love) that made the difference!

She was a devout Catholic, always helping others in need. She volunteered at nursing homes, cooked meals for the Our Daily Bread soup kitchen program, and donated baked goods to the YMCA, Boy Scouts of America, and other bake sales to raise money for charitable organizations. She practiced random acts of kindness and encouraged her children to do the same.

Lorraina was loyal, faithful, selfless, and sacrificed herself for the benefit of others even when faced with impossible circumstances. After her husband became wheelchair bound, she stood by his side, she kept going and pushing forward. Pushing his wheelchair when he could no longer walk. For 62 years of marriage, she never complained one day. She stayed with her husband Paul until his passing in August 2018. She lost many other family members, including her three sons Alan, Justin, & Julian Arca, and siblings Joan, Angelina, and Wayne Lago. Even then she never said an unkind word. 

Lorraina was not much of a talker, more a power walker constantly moving and doing things. Even when times were tough (like after the loss of her husband and three of her sons), she kept going.

She led by example and quietly taught us to keep on moving through this world, regardless of what happens. Even when life appears broken and painful, she showed us that we must not just be strong, but we must be stronger than before and continue to move on.

She believed that every child, no matter how challenging, or imperfect, is a gift from God. A life like a small seed in the garden, that needs love and nurturing to grow and bloom to its potential. Life is hard work, but still a gift not to be wasted. That life is too precious to waste talking on cell phones, arguing about what we should do, we know what we need to do. If we are alive, and have the gift of life, we have to just get up and go, each day, walk fearlessly and live on. 

In memory of Lorraina Rose Arca, the Arca family asks that you perform a random act of kindness. For example: make a hot meal for a soup kitchen, bake some delicious cookies to sweeten up the bitterness of someone’s life, share a special recipe by adding it to Lorraina Rose Arca ‘s Online Recipe Box (https://www.facebook.com/share/g/JWWWqASR1gAzSxDK/?mibextid=K35XfP ). 

Family and Friends may call at Ambrose Funeral Home 1328 Sulphur Spring Road Arbutus MD 21227; 410-242-2211; www.ambrosefuneralhomes.com on Sunday 11/24/24 from 3-7 pm.

The Funeral mass will be on Monday 11/25/24 at 10 am at the Church of the Ascension, 4603 Poplar Ave Halethorpe MD 21227 (410-242-2292); with burial procession to follow at Meadowridge Memorial Park.