Lorraine Kaplan

DATELINE: PLYMOUTH, MA

Lorraine Kaplan, beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died peacefully at her home in Plymouth MA Sunday October 28, 2018, at the age of 94. She was a kind, loving woman who was devoted to her family. She was born on July 24, 1924 in Brooklyn, NY. Lorraine is the daughter of the late Sarah and Nathan Katzman. At the age of ten she moved to Fall River, MA where she resided until the age of 80. After attending B.M.C. Durfee High School, she worked as a bookkeeper. In 1946 she married Samuel Kaplan, a Sergeant in the U.S. Army, who had just returned from World War II.

While raising her four children, Lorraine earned her Associate Degree from Bristol Community College and later taught in the Fall River Public School System. She was a life long member of Temple Beth El, Hadassah and B’nai Brith. For more than ten years she was the President of the Jewish War Veterans Auxiliary and held the position of Insurance Liaison, Jewish Affairs Chairman and Aid to Israel Chair for the National J WV. During that time Lorraine annually participated in the House Committee on Veterans Affairs in Washington D.C. to help make policy for benefits for all veterans. She was a board Member of the Fall River Jewish Home for the Aged.

She worked as an accounting manager at Bedford Manufacturing Corporation, the company her husband owned. After his death, she became the owner, and managed that Firm for ten years. Lorraine had the elite status of being the only woman owner in the Garment Manufacturing Association; while in that position she was a staunch advocate for working women.

Another position that Lorraine held was the Friendly Visitor of the Jewish Federation, visiting elders who were at convalescent homes and homebound. She hosted many Jewish Russian immigrants for months before they settled into their own apartments and helped them acclimate into the community. She also opened her home to foreign students.

In her 70′s Lorraine volunteered for the Israeli Army where she lived in the barracks, wore fatigues and did various jobs on base to support the soldiers. When she returned home she frequently was the keynote speaker at organizations and meetings, inspiring others with her presentations about her volunteer experiences.

After her retirement from teaching at age 80, Lorraine moved to Las Vegas. In 2012 she resided at the Highlands Assisted Living in Providence R.I. before moving to her final home, Laurelwood at the Pinehills in Plymouth MA. Some of her favorite activities included, book club, ceramics, women’s group and Maj Jongh.

She leaves her daughter Jerri Iris & husband, Alan Sher, from Los Angeles, CA, Robin Gross & late husband, Dr. Richard Gross, of Plymouth, MA, Neal Kaplan & wife, Karen, of Providence, R I and Priscilla Kaplan & husband, Jeffrey Prudhomme, of Menlo Park, CA., She leaves her grandchildren; Amy & Kenneth Margulies, Heather & Charles McDaniel, Samantha & Adam Zirkin, Sarah Gross, Sandra Gross & John Hohmann III, Sergeant Seth Gross, Benjamin Prudhomme, Jordan Prudhomme, Hope Oliveira & Heather Oliveira. Also, she leaves her 10 great-grandchildren; Rachel, Justin, Adam, Craig, Griffin, Aerin, Jacob, Ronen, Rita and Johnny. She leaves her brother Lt. Col. Ret. Harold Katzman from Las Vegas, NV. and her brother, the late Milton Katzman.

Lorraine will be remembered for her outgoing personality, her inspiration, versatility, warmth, understanding, and her ability to include everyone and anyone who came into her life.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 30^th, 11:00 A.M. at Temple Beth El, 385 High St. Fall River, MA. Shiva will be observed at the home of Neal & Karen Kaplan, 44 Jewett St. Providence, R.I. 02908 on Tuesday Oct. 30^th from 6-9 P.M. and Wed. Oct. 31^st 2-4 P.M. and 6-8 P.M. Also Shiva will be at the home of Robin Gross on Thursday, Nov. 1^st from 2-4 P.M. and 6-8 P.M. and Friday Nov. 2 from 1-3 P.M. at 8 Red Canoe, Plymouth, MA 02360

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Lorraine may be made to the Jewish War Veterans – Dept. of MA and mailed to: JWV c/o Nancy Goldstein, 51 Dehon St. Revere, MA 02151 or the Dr. Richard Gross Scholarship Fund and mailed to the Eastern Bank 71 Carver Rd., Plymouth, MA 02360.