Marlborough – Lorraine M. (Charbonneau) Mangual, 70, of Marlborough, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, Sept. 1, 2018 after a period of declining health.
She was born Nov. 4, 1947 in Marlborough to the late Leo V. and Ethel (Santora) Charbonneau, also from Marlborough. The first of six children, she lived for a time in Arlington, Texas, before returning back to the area for good with her family in 1961.
Lorraine was a loving wife of 53 years, and is survived by her husband, John B. Mangual, also of Marlborough.
She was raised and attended school primarily in the Marlborough/Hudson area. While she yearned for a career in the President John F. Kennedy-era Peace Corps, she helped raise a young family by working high tech jobs at both Digital and Data General before eventually turning her hand to retail and then retiring from Wal-Mart in 2006.
She had a vivacious and outgoing personality, and was always trying to help others by any means possible, which harkened back to her Peace Corps desires.
She enjoyed swimming and diving, trips to the ocean, and was an avid bird watcher. This as well as playing dominos, building puzzles and taking many an uncharted driving adventure with only a printed map, as her father Leo had taught her how to read very early in her life. She also enjoyed writing and sending friends and family member’s letters and greeting cards almost daily and up to the very end of her days.
Lorraine was a longtime member of Christ the King church in Marlborough, and like her parents was a proud lifetime member of both the AMVETS Post 208 and VFW Post 1027 in Hudson, where she served as their Auxiliary President on two occasions for the latter. She was also very proud of and was self-rewarded by her active involvement in The Fresh Air Fund by hosting underprivileged children from New York City each summer.
In addition to her loving husband, John B., Lorraine is also survived by her beloved children, son Johnny A. Mangual and his wife Patty of Southborough, daughter Maureen Larson and her husband Darryl of Marlborough; sisters Linda Saari-Charbonneau of Marlborough, Lorna Felix and her husband Richard of Sterling, and Elaine Derosier of Uxbridge; and brothers Leo A. Charbonneau and his wife Brenda of Uxbridge and Leon Charbonneau and his wife Sue of Ashburnham. She is also survived by her grandchildren, whom she adored and doted on, Matthew Mangual, Olivia and Abigail Larson and Rebecca, Katie and Elizabeth Blackburn, as well as many loving nieces and nephews and close lifelong friends.
A period of calling hours will be held Thursday, Sept. 6, from 4-7 p.m., at Tighe Hamilton Regional Funeral Home, 50 Central St., Hudson. A memorial service will be held in the funeral home the following day, Friday, Sept. 7, at 10 a.m. Burial will be private at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of her incredibly special niece, Hailey P. Charbonneau, to the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation at www.umdf.org.
