Obituary of Lorraine A. Pronek

Lorraine A. Pronek, 86, of Farmingdale passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 9, at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune.  Lorraine and her sister Joan were raised by their parents, James and Agnes, in Brooklyn, NY.  In her early years, she was very happily part of a large family of aunts, uncles and cousins and developed lifelong friendships.  Lorraine met Neal Pronek in 1959, and they were married in 1960. She moved with Neal from Brooklyn to Farmingdale in 1972, where they remained, and raised six very fortunate people privileged to be their children.  While the previous statements provide some basic facts, they don’t accurately capture how joyfully they lived together until Neal passed away in November, 2023.

Lorraine was a parishioner of St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church and served with its Rosary Altar Guild and as a catechism instructor.  Lorraine earned her associate’s degree and worked as an aide in Special Education for Howell Township schools. She later worked as an executive assistant in the pharmaceutical industry.  While Lorraine worked outside the home once her children were older, the primary focus of her life was raising her children and offering unlimited gracious and loving support to her grandchildren.  In addition, she cherished time with her extended family, especially during their annual trips to the Outer Banks.  Lorraine will be fondly remembered by the many who knew her for her consistent kindness, warm smile, and her way of listening sincerely.  She lifted the spirits of anyone in her company.   

In addition to her husband, Lorraine was predeceased by her sister and brother-in-law, Joan and James Meehan, and sister-in-law Joan Pronek.  She is mourned by her children, Neal Pronek and his wife, Sarah, Eileen Neff and her husband, Thomas, Eugene Pronek, Thomas Pronek and his wife, Elaine, Christine Pronek, and Elizabeth Miller; grandchildren, Kellyn Neff and her husband, Malachi McMullen, Veronica Neff, Benjamin Pronek and his wife Victoria, Andrew Pronek, Brennan Miller and Gavin Pronek.  Lorraine will also be greatly missed by her loving step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and their families.

A gathering will be held at Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road, Freehold Township on Thursday, July 18, 2024, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.  Relatives and friends are invited to her Memorial Funeral Mass at St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church, 31 Asbury Road, Farmingdale at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 19, 2024.  Inurnment will be private.  For those who desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Elixir Fund, PO Box 326, Princeton Junction, NJ 08550 or www.elixirfund.org.  For information, directions or condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.