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GENTILE, Lorraine W. passed away from complications of metastatic liver cancer on July 25, 2017, surrounded by her family. She was born in Passaic, New Jersey, to the late Ludwig and Marie (Tuz) Wilk. She attended Woodrow Wilson Junior High School and Passaic High School, where she excelled at her studies and enjoyed cheerleading, and, most of all, her friends. After high school graduation in 1951, Lorraine pursued her ambition and became a registered nurse at Passaic General Hospital. She spent most of her career at Paterson General Hospital, where she developed her specialty as a medical surgical nurse. Throughout her career, she cared for sick and vulnerable patients with compassion, care and love. Lorraine was ahead of her time as a working single mother, raising two children. As her children got older, she followed the advice of one of her colleagues at Paterson General and accepted the of position of the head of the Medical Division of the State Farm Insurance facility in Wayne, New Jersey. It was during a patient visit in the spring of 1969 that she reconnected with an old friend, Nicholas S. Gentile, Jr., whom she had first met in 1953. The reconnection sparked a love connection, and after three months, Lorraine and Nick married in August 1969. They began their life together in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey, where they raised their three children and created a beautiful home for their family and many adored pets. Lorraine and Nick were blessed with eight wonderful grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and a fifth one on the way.

Lorraine was an avid crossword puzzler, gardener, decorator, cook and baker. She loved to read and enjoyed film, art, classical music and opera. She loved all kinds of research, especially in medical topics, but also broadly across social sciences, child-rearing, nature conservancy, and even financial investments.

Beyond her professional accomplishments as a well-respected nurse, Lorraine was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She was a woman of strong character, anchored in faith, mental strength, and sharp intellect. She was infused with love, compassion, humor and selflessness. She raised her children to have personal courage, tenacity, curiosity, optimism and, above all, love.

Lorraine W. Gentile will be deeply missed and forever honored by those of us who were fortunate enough to have known and been loved by her. She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Nicholas S. Gentile, Jr.; her daughter, Barbara Hillenbrand and her fiancé, Steve Hirsch; her son, Mark R. Arendas and his wife, Elizabeth Lange; her daughter, Jennifer (Gentile) Long and her husband, Daniel Long; her grandchildren: Jeremy Hillenbrand his wife, Sarah; Jason Hillenbrand; Morgan (Hillenbrand) Savage and her husband, Andrew Savage; Jared Hillenbrand; Christian Hillenbrand; Kate (Arendas) Bent and her husband, Matthew Bent; Jacob Long; and, Harrison Long. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Scarlett and Juliet Hillenbrand; Isabelle Savage; and Matthew Bent.

The family will receive family and friends on Friday from 4-8PM at Vander Plaat-Vermeulen Memorial Home, 530 High Mountain Road, Franklin Lakes. Funeral Services Saturday at 9:30AM at the funeral home followed by a 10:00AM Mass at Most Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church, 787 Franklin Lake Road, Franklin Lakes. Interment at Christ the King Cemetery, Franklin Lakes.

Memorial donations may be made in Lorraine’s name to the Franklin Lakes Public Library.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lorraine W. Gentile (Wilk), please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.