Lora’s Obituary Lora Ann Robarge was welcomed into the arms of our Lord on Friday, January 11th, 2019. Born September 24th, 1929, to Catherine Smith Sheldon and James Sheldon, in Buffalo, New York, she lived most of her life in the Groton-New London area. She met her beloved husband, Francis Robarge in high school, attending the Junior Prom together.
Their 72 year love story included getting married on October 29, 1949, having six children together, and happily welcoming six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Lora’s strong faith guided her throughout her life and was the basis for her positive and gracious outlook on life. Lora’s love for her husband and appreciation for his kind and caring ways, and her commitment to her large family and her faith were consistent life-long priorities.
Even so, she was able to create a career, opening a nursery school and day care with her two partners and friends, Carol and Maureen, in Groton. ABC Nursery School provided day care and pre-school experiences to many local toddlers for over 20 years. After retirement, she traveled at every opportunity, including cruises, visiting family across the country, a trip across country by train with Fran, and an amazing trip to China with family.
She volunteered at the Groton Senior Computer Center and enjoyed the comraderies and friendships created there. She kept a busy and active social lifestyle with her husband and her children, which she often said she had twelve, as she considered her daughter-in-laws and son-in-laws her children too. She attended all her grandchildren’s sporting, musical, theatrical, educational events, and loved spending time with her many friends going to lunch, attending theater productions, prayer groups, and religious retreats.
She was an active member of the Small Christian Community and Fitch High School alumni committee. Lora is survived by her husband, Francis, of Groton, children Mark Robarge(Lisa) of Groton, David Robarge (Elaine) of Fort Myers, FL, Karen Zrenda (Jerry) of Old Lyme, Craig Robarge (Jennifer Lewis) of North Stonington, Lora Feldman (Alan) of Mystic and Thomas Robarge (Maggie Wei) of Stonington, her six grandchildren: Stacy Kinn of Mount Dora, FL, Ryan Zrenda, of Long Island City, NY, Leila and Zhena Robarge of Stonington and Timothy Robarge of North Stonington, and great grandchildren, Tyler and Eva Kinn of Florida. She was also blessed with a large, amazingly close-knit family of nieces and nephews.
Lora was predeceased by her grandson, Thomas Zrenda, her two sisters, Margaret Geer and Mary Ellen Cowles and their spouses Ernie and Jack. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at Sacred Heart Church, 56 Sacred Heart Drive, Groton, CT on Tuesday at 10:30 am. Visiting hours will be held on Monday from 4 until 6 o’clock at the Byles-Groton Memorial Home, 310 Thames St. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Sacred Heart Church of Groton, or to a charity of their choice.
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