Lori Nowak

Some see being a mother as an inferior job with high demand and little reward, but nothing could be farther from the truth in the eyes of Lorraine Nowak as she viewed this role to be both her highest calling and her greatest blessing. She certainly treasured her role as a mother, but she just may have argued that being a grandmother was the very best part as her grandchildren were the loves of her life. Lori’s compassionate and tender spirit extended far beyond her own family since she was eager to nurture all who were within her reach as her life exemplifies what it means to be selfless. Although she will be deeply missed, she leaves behind a timeless legacy that is deeply rooted in unconditional love for the generations who follow her to carry on in continual remembrance of her.

During the first half of the 1940s, the eyes of our nation were focused overseas as WWII raged on. After the vicious attack on our naval base in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, countless young American servicemen and women were sent overseas to engage in the fight for the freedoms that we still enjoy today. It was during this eventful time that a young couple from Oak Park, Michigan, was delighted with the birth of a healthy baby girl on November 28, 1944. Lorraine was one of seven children born to her parents, Edmund G. and Letitia (Faber) Jacques, and she was raised in the family home alongside her brothers, John, Edmund, and Christopher, and her three sisters, Joy Ann, Caroline Louise, and Jeanette. As a young girl she loved spending time with her grandparents as often as she could. Lori, as she was usually known, was a student at local schools and went on to graduate from St. Augustine’s High School. Shortly after graduating from high school in 1963, Lori began working for Michigan Bell Telephone Company. She spent her entire career there until she retired in 2006.

Daily life was forever changed for Lori when she met and later married Louis Nowak. Together they were blessed with two children, Brian and Brenda, and she couldn’t have been happier. Lori was always there for her children, and with her fun-loving spirit she was always a bustle of activity. When her children were growing up she loved snowmobiling with them. During their younger years Brian and Brenda made breakfast quite interesting by making tall walls between them on the table using the wide variety of cereals that Lori kept on hand. She usually just looked on with a laugh, but at times she had a few pieces of motherly wisdom regarding picking on each other. Many of these same words would later be passed on from Brenda to her own daughter, Zoey. Lori was a very involved parent when it came to the activities that her children were a part of. She was active with her son in the Boy Scouts and loved having the troop come over to the house in addition to Brenda’s cheerleading squad as well. Lori’s family appreciated her fantastic cooking skills as she always made something tasty for her family. Brian was particularly fond of her pot roast. Although Lori and Louis later divorced, she was forever grateful for the children they shared.

Although nothing was of greater importance to Lori than spending time with her family, she did enjoy other things that kept her busy. During her younger years she and some friends often got together to preserve pickles. Brenda always thought that it was a sight to behold when there were big buckets of pickles in brine just waiting to be sealed in jars. Lori was known for her love of singing and dancing as well as her ability to turn almost anything into a tune. During Lori’s dance career, no one could do the “Sooppy Shuffle” like she could. She loved to go bowling, golfing, and enjoyed sitting on Pine Lake soaking up the sunshine with Kathy Pickett. Throughout her life Lori had several German Shepherds as pets, and all were beloved companions that shared a strong bond with her. Lori loved her convertibles, having owned a cherry red Mustang at one time in addition to a red Corvette. With a love for helping the sick and injured, Lori volunteered in the emergency room at Borgess Hospital for ten years. She also cared for her mother in her home until her death in 2001.

Life came full circle for Lori when she became a grandmother to Zoey and Isabella. She loved being with them whenever she could, and since she was a kid at heart they loved being with her, too. Zoey thought that Grandma Lori gave the best back scratches, and they loved cracking jokes together. Lori and Zoey made up a goofy song while bouncing on the spring horse in the basement, “I’m gonna be a cowgirl and I’m gonna buy a horse, and when I buy that horse I’m goin’ to Grandma’s house of course.” They really belted it out once they got going! As Lori’s health declined in later years, she loved being with her family even more and looked forward to the time they were able to share together.

The heartbeat of wherever she was, Lori Nowak made a significant impact in the lives of all who were near. She was fun-loving with a contagious zest for life and the occasional naughty joke or two. Lori lived to be a mother and grandmother, and it was her family who brought her more joy than she had ever known. Generous, nurturing, and gracious, Lori will be deeply missed while her memory is forever cherished.

Lori Nowak died on April 3, 2014. Lori’s family includes her children, Brian Nowak and Brenda (Eric) Lindsey; two granddaughters, Zoey Elizabeth Lindsey and Isabella Ann House; brother, Christopher of Detroit; 3 sisters, Joy Ann Eggleston of London, England, Caroline Louise McKinley-Byrne of Kalamazoo, and Jeanette Penny of Farmington, MI; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins. Lori was Godmother to Steven Eggleston, Nathan Penny, and Tom Pickett. Lori was preceded in death by her parents and 2 brothers, John of Grayson, GA and Edmund F. of Pontiac, MI. Learn more about Lori, view her Life Story film and visit with family & friends while sharing refreshments on Friday beginning at 11 a.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler-Kalamazoo, 6080 Stadium Drive, 269-375-2900, where a Memorial Service will be held at 12:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials and donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association for research and a cure. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a favorite memory or photo.