Lorraine LaSusa-Weymouth

Lorraine LaSusa Weymouth,76, of Inverness, IL, passed away peacefully September 2,2012, in Barrington, IL, after a brief but brave fight to recover from emergency surgery for an intestinal obstruction.  Born March 9,1936, in Chicago, IL to Edward Rocco and Elizabeth DiLoreto, Lorraine is predeceased by her beloved parents and sister, Rachel.  Lorraine deeply believed in the value of education and worked her way through catholic grade school, high school and two years of college at Loyola University of Chicago before marrying Samuel A. LaSusa.  Having five children with Samuel, she was by no means a “stay at home mom”.  Lorraine was a passionate community advocate and volunteer starting with the Palatine Junior Women’s Club, becoming its President in 1967, a catechism teacher, and later mobilizing northwestern suburban teens to raise funds for a teen center (The Joint) to be constructed in Palatine.  Lorraine raised funds for the teen center by booking local music concerts featuring such talents as Neil Diamond and REO Speedwagon.  To raise more funds for the teen center she spearheaded a municipal bond drive.  All the funds were ultimately donated to the Buehler YMCA and were a significant boost to its formation.  In 1978 Lorraine returned to school to pursue her degree in Psychology at DePaul University.  While at DePaul she played Varsity Tennis until her graduation in 1982, being one of DePaul’s most senior Varsity athletes.  Capitalizing on her passion for community caring and volunteerism Lorraine became Executive Director of Talkline/Kidsline, a non-profit 24 hour comprehensive crisis intervention hotline broadly serving the North, Northwest and Western suburbs of Chicago.  She designed and implemented KidsLine, the first 24 hour hotline in the nation for after-school latchkey children. The vision and success of TalkLine/KidsLine was recognized at a Whitehouse ceremony by President Ronald Reagan giving Lorraine the President’s Volunteer Action Award. She also spearheaded the TeenLine hotline to address teen suicide prevention, for which she received Illinois’ Governor’s Home Town Award.  Lorraine met and married her life and tennis partner, Theodore S. Weymouth, a volunteer at TalkLine/KidsLine in 1985.  After leaving Talkline/Kidsline Lorraine returned to school to obtain a Masters in Social Work from Loyola University and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Lorraine appeared before local, statewide and national organizations, universities, such as the American Medical Association,"" Strom Thurmond Institute of Government and Public Affairs at Clemson University and the Illinois Youth Protection Task Force.  She also appeared on national and local TV and radio programs such as """"Good Morning America"""" and """"Voice of America"""".  She taught at Roosevelt University in the Public Administration program at the graduate and undergraduate levels on administering nonprofit organizations.

Following her stellar leadership at Talk Line/Kids Line Lorraine had a long, active and enriching career as a family counselor until her passing.  Lorraine was an accomplished artist, and avid gardener, often painting beautiful watercolors of her favorite flowers, irises.  Lorraine loved cooking for her family and friends, and was known for making mountainous lemon meringue pies and equally mountainous piles of ravioli, gnocchi and pasta.  Lorraine was an avid fan of rock and roll from the classics like Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones to the contemporary like Matchbox 20 and Green Day.  Lorraine took up the sport of tennis in the early ‘70’s as a member of the now called South Barrington Club.  She played competitively on their team until retiring and receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the team in 2010.  She and Ted continued to play humorously, lovingly and competitively, together winning many mixed doubles tournaments and against each other virtually every weekend until her passing.

Lorraine is survived by her beloved husband, Ted; and children: Valerie (Bradley) Zilbersher of Brooklyn, NY, and grandchildren Nicholas and Alexander; Matthew LaSusa (Heather) of Barrington, IL and grandchildren Jason and Cara; Lawrence LaSusa of Traverse City, MI, and grandchildren Michael, Samuel and Anna; Deanna (David) Hotchner of Hoffman Estates, IL, and grandchildren Anthony and Natalie; and Jenene LaSusa (Michael Barron) of Yorkville, IL; and her stepchildren: T Clark Weymouth (Lucy) of Chevy Chase, MD, and step grandchildren Kristen and Kelly; Michael Weymouth of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and step grandchildren Michael and James; Jonathan Weymouth of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and step grandchildren Ashley and Nicole; and Rebecca (Daniel) Reimer of Miami, FL , and step grandchildren Whitney and Heidi.

Lorraine is predeceased by her pet Maltese’s Leo, Rocky and Misha, and survived by Mama Mia and Bella.

Visitation will be held from 4 – 9 p.m., Thursday, September 6,2012, at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 149 W. Main Street (Lake Cook Road), Barrington IL 60010.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9 a.m., September 7th,2012, at St. Anne Catholic Church, 120 Ela St. (Corner of Franklin and Ela St.), Barrington, IL 60010, with a visitation held one hour prior to the mass at church.

A brief burial service will be held at Queen of Heaven Cemetery chapel, 1400 South Wolf Road, Hillside, IL 60162 following mass. (No procession, travel on own). All friends and family are invited to a luncheon reception at Francesca’s, 100 E. Station St., Barrington from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.  Please RSVP to a family member.

In Lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in memory of her sister Rachel: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield,"" MA 01202  or online at: http://www.lls.org/waystohelp/donate/donateonline/