Lorraine Libby

Lorraine M. Libby, 88, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, after a brief illness.

The daughter of John A. and Blanche M. Cook, Lorraine attended South Portland schools, and graduated from South Portland High School. She spent her working years as a secretary for various companies in the Portland area, concluding a long stint as an executive secretary at Consumers Water Company, from which she retired.

She met her husband, Leonard Libby, when he hired her mother to dip chocolates for the family candy store, Libby’s Candies, on Route 1 in Scarborough. They built a home on Maple Avenue in 1951, where they spent many happy years. They later sold that house and moved to Westwood Avenue, where they cared for Lorraine’s mother until her death in 2009.

Len was well known in the town of Scarborough for his charitable work, but Lorraine was the person who kept things running smoothly. A brilliantly fast typist (her children were amazed at the blur of her fingers on the keys) and organizer, she kept Len’s books, took care of all his clerical needs, mailed, sorted, took dictation, typed, and did everything necessary. The two of them were a great team for 62 years, and when Len died in 2012, Lorraine lost an irreplaceable part of her life.

Additionally, Lorraine loved to sing. In high school, she sang regularly on local radio stations; later she performed in local Lions Club variety shows, sang in church choirs, and performed in community theater.  She passed that love on to her daughter, Leslie, who considers it the best gift she ever received. She also loved the Sea Dogs, traveling, and cats — all cats, but especially hers. Her home always had a cat in it, and Sam, Charlie Brown, Sylvia, Sidney, and her last two, Rosie and Amy, held special places in her heart.

Lorraine is survived by her daughters, Leslie Chadbourne of Portland and Lisa Knight of Raymond; her three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, Dec. 28 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Hobbs Funeral Home, 230 Cottage Road, South Portland. A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. There will be a private burial in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lorraine’s memory to the Scarborough Fire/Rescue and Police Departments, PO Box 360, Scarborough, ME 04074, or to the charity of one’s choice.