Lorraine K. Reason

Mrs. Lorraine K. Kroh Reason, 88, entered the arms of the Lord on Friday, August 2, 2024, surrounded by the love of her family.

Lorraine, the daughter of the late Mary Schneider Kroh and the late Philip Kroh was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey and she was a proud graduate of Batton High School.  Lorraine raised her family in Scotch Plains where she lived from 1965 until 1997 when she relocated to Toms River.  She then returned to Union County three years ago, settling in Westfield.

Dance of all styles from ballroom to jazz to tap and beyond were a major part of Lorraine’s life through the years.  In her teens, she was a dance instructor and then became a professional dancer until age 21.  When Lorraine was 14 years old, she was hired along with her younger sister, Betty Ann to do commercials for Philip Morris, the American tobacco company.  The family still has films of Lorraine dancing her way as the cigarette box and Betty Ann keeping pace as the match box.  Later in life, she was a member of the “Calendar Girls” a senior group who would entertain so many people with their dancing shows held in the various nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other senior clubs.  The “Girls” continued to keep Lorraine’s feet moving at a fast pace before having to grudgingly end her dance career a year ago.  When Lorraine married her beloved husband, Ronald A. Reason, she then entered another part of her life’s journey as a wife and mother.  In 1970 Lorraine felt the time was right to start another career and she worked as a school library assistant from 1970 until 1982.  She dabbled a bit in group merchandise sales but then decidedly switched directions when she became a nurse’s aide, working at the Ashbrook Nursing Home in Scotch Plains and Green Brook Nursing Home in Green Brook.  Concurrently, Lorraine also worked as a private duty in-home aide. 

Never one to just let life pass her by, Lorraine enjoyed her bingo games, playing cards with the gang, especially Michigan Rummy and Poker for Pennies.  She also bowled for many years with her husband, Ronald, when they were living in Toms River.  Laughing, joking, shopping for bargains were other important facets of Lorraine’s charm.  Her late afternoon ritual involved her daily glass of Chardonnay while watching “Judge Judy”.  A very spiritual woman who loved Jesus, Lorraine viewed herself as a non-denominational, born-again Christian. 

A lady of intense moral character, Lorraine disliked any injustice, unfairness, complaining, outright laziness and of course, politics!  Having tried hard to describe what Lorraine held near and dear to her heart would have been impossible without shouting from the rooftops that her husband and her children were the most important part of her life.  Her love for them was boundless and her family was her world.  Nothing gave her greater pleasure than spending any amount of time with them.

Predeceased by her beloved husband, Ronald A. Reason in 2019, Lorraine is survived by her three children, Victoria L. Schetelich and her husband, Thomas J. Schetelich, Dennis A. Reason and his wife, Carolyn and her youngest son, Ron Reason; her sister, Betty Ann Calavano and Lorraine’s many friends and neighbors. 

The spotlight on Lorraine has now dimmed and her family will miss her vibrancy and jest for life.  However, they do take comfort in the knowledge that Lorraine is once again reunited with her husband, Ronald and may they both rest in eternal peace.  Lorraine will forever be deeply missed, but she will never be forgotten.

In accordance with Lorraine’s wishes, the funeral services will be private.

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