Lorraine Serre

Lorraine A. Serre, 88, formerly of E 2nd St. died Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at St. Luke's surrounded by her family.
Lorraine was born in Spit Rock Township near Kettle River on February 28, 1926 to John and Elizabeth Butkiewicz and graduated from Moose Lake High School. She married Adelore Serre on November 14, 1947. Lorraine was a active member of St. Mary Star of the Sea Church; serving on the funeral lunch committee and spending a lot of time in its Holy Innocence's Adoration Chapel. She volunteered at the St. Vincent DePaul Society, PTA's; sold Christmas tree's every year to help pay for her children's education at Duluth Cathedral, where she had a child from when the school opened until it closed. Most of all, "family" was most important to Lorraine.

Preceded in her passage to heaven by her husband, Adelore (1992), her parents Elizabeth and John Butkiewicz, her daughter Jean Serre-Swanson, her son-in-law Roger Swanson, her grandson Christopher Swanson, a brother Leander Butkiewicz and brother-in-laws F. Arthur Hughes and Alan Currie, a sister-in-law Carol Butkiewicz.

She is survived by her nine children and 28 grandchildren, who she believed were the gifts of life. Jean Serre-Swanson's children Vickie (James) Chaffee and Brian (Dawn) Swanson. Two daughters, Barbara (Charles) Murphy and their children Jason (Dina), Jonathan (Amanda) and Jacob; and Renee (Christian) Nelson and their children Alexsander, Thomaz, Addisyn, Lorelyn. Seven sons, John (Nancy) Serre and their children Matthew, Nicholas (Mary), Jordan (Cami); Thomas and his children Zachary (Stephanie), Timothy, Alyssa, Joseph; Mark (Jean) Serre and their children Abraham, Benjamin; Richard (Rebecca) and their children Andrew (Bethany), Scott; Bernard (Deborah) Serre and their children Emily, Joshua, Kassandra, Nathaniel; Michael (Erin) Serre and their children Isaac, Jacob; Philip (Danise) Serre and their children Brandon, Sophia. Daughter-in-law, Sarah Serre; Nine great grandchildren who were additional gifts to her life; Kailey, Madalin, and Ryan (Vickie and James's children); Caleigh and Kelsi (Jason and Dina's children); Wyatt (Brian and Dawn's son); Dominic (Emily's son); Scarlett and William (Nicholas and Mary's children).
Her seven siblings who were forever her best friends; Florence (Martin) Meager, Mildred Currie, Theodora Hughes, Louis Butkiewicz, Bernard (Alicia) Butkiewicz, Louise (Richard) LeSavage and Phyllis (Gale) Knutson and a sister-in-law and friend Darlene Butkiewicz.

Visitation will be Sunday from 4-6pm with Wake Prayers at 5:30pm in the Dougherty Funeral Home. Visitation will continue Monday from 10 am to the 11 am Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, 325 E 3rd St. Duluth. Burial at the Polish Catholic Cemetery. Memorials are preferred and may be directed to the St. Mary Star of the Sea Church's, Holy Innocence's Adoration Chapel. Arrangements by Dougherty Funeral Home, 600 E 2nd St. Duluth, 9218) 727-3555.