Wednesday afternoon, November 30, 2005 at the Haven Health Center.
She was a native and life long resident of Claremont, NH, born on February
6, 1924 the daughter of Alexander and Jadwiga Leocha.
Lorraine graduated from Stevens High School in the Class of 1941. She
received a business degree from Northampton Business College, Northampton,
MA and as one of the two highest ranked students in her class; she was
requested to graduate early to work in the WWII war effort. She returned to
college, after putting her seven children through college, and received her
Bachelor of Arts from the UNH College of Lifelong Learning on June 14, 1992,
at the age of 68.
Lorraine worked as a waitress at the Poland Spring House, Maine, and in
Naples Florida, in the business office at Joy Manufacturing Co. in
Claremont, was an office worker for Dr. Dexter and also worked at the voting
polls for many years. She assumed ownership and managed her parents' grocery store, Leocha's Market, on 6 Elm Street and numerous apartment buildings. She supported her husband, Charles Puksta, the former Mayor of Claremont, in their community service.
Lorraine was a former Girl Scout and an active member of St Joseph Church.
She answered the phone from her home for many years for Fr. Stan. She
carried on her mother's legacy in leadership of St Joseph Ladies Adoration
Society and was a member of Court Virgil H. Barber #892 Catholic Daughters
of the Americas.
Lorraine was married to Charles Puksta for 58 years. She is survived by
seven children (and their spouses) and 15 grandchildren. Their children
are: Mary Todd (and Paul) of Anchorage, AK, Charles P. Puksta, Jr. (and
Nancy) of Dallas, TX, Juliana Maglathlin of Rockville, MD, Stephen Puksta
(and Teri) of Nashua, NH, Frederick Puksta (and LeeAnn) of Keene, NH,
Alexander Puksta (and Christine) of North Charlestown, NH and David Puksta
(and Helena) of Nashua, NH. Their grandchildren are: Monica; Nate; Becca;
Katie; Vic; Matt; John; Taylor; Grace; Liam; Michael; Audrey; Dominic;
Autumn and Cheyenne. Her sisters, Alina Learned of Winchester, VA and
Theresa Stillman of Claremont.
Lorraine's siblings, now deceased, were: Adolph Leocha, Victor Leocha,
Felicia Rhodes, Alfreda Burbee, Michaelina Leocha, and Stanley Leocha.
Friends may call at the Stringer Funeral Home, 146 Broad Street in Claremont
on Sunday Dec. 4th from two to eight o'clock.
Members of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas are asked to meet at the
Funeral Home Sunday evening at 7 PM for services.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday morning, Dec. 5th at
Eleven O'clock in St Joseph Church with Rev. Father Stanley J. Piwowar,
Pastor, officiating. Interment will follow in St Mary Cemetery.
The family suggest that donations may be made in her memory to the St Joseph
Ladies Adoration Society, In Care Of Steve Puksta, 23 Stark Street., Nashua,
NH 30364.