Rock'n'roll was a huge part of Lorraine Redmond's life. Photo / Supplied
Rock'n'roll was a huge part of Lorraine Redmond's life. Photo / Supplied
Lorraine Redmond (July 14, 1940 – March 16, 2018)
"The First Lady" of rock'n'roll in the Bay danced right up until she couldn't dance anymore. And still, the music played.
Lorraine Redmond died peacefully in Tauranga last week aged 77 and was farewelled on Wednesday in a fitting fashion.
She had been battling brain cancer for the past 18 months "with incredible strength and a positive outlook", her daughter Rochelle Mackenzie said.
Lorraine was a huge fan of the well-known New Zealand singer and entertainer Dennis Marsh and Marsh visited her while she was in hospice in the weeks leading up to her death.
Everybody in the Tauranga and Whakatane rock'n'roll community knew her.
"Lorraine was a warm, compassionate and loving lady who always went out of her way to help others – no matter what," Rochelle said of her mum.
"She was a proud and strong woman with a passion for life and her family which endeared her to everyone she came into contact with and it is a real testament to her nature that she formed so many wonderful friendships over the years."
The friendships Lorraine made were often lifelong friendships.
Lorraine Redmond. Photo / Supplied
She was born Margaret Lorraine Richardson on July 14, 1940, in Dannevirke.
She grew up on the family dairy farm in the small community of Rua Roa with her parents Andrew and Phyllis and her younger sister and brother Diane and Lloyd.
When she was in her teens, the family sold the farm and moved into town and at the age of 15, Lorraine started her first job at a bookshop in Dannevirke.
She was a very talented dressmaker and this would be her career for much of her life.
Lorraine married her first husband, the late Graeme Francis, in 1964 and together they had four children – Shayne, Deidre, Rochelle and Dean.
Lorraine later remarried to Ron Redmond in 1995 and they settled in Ohope for several years before returning to Tauranga to enjoy their retirement.
Her hobbies and passions were dancing, home baking, sewing and knitting. Rock'n'roll was a huge part of Lorraine's life.
She was one of the founding members of the Tauranga Rock'n'roll Club and also helped start the Whakatane club.
Cindy Skinner, who knew Lorraine for 30 years through the Tauranga club, said her death was a huge loss, both for her personally and also for the dancing community.
She referred to Lorraine as "The First Lady" of rock'n'roll in the Bay.
"I think the thing we all have to remember is that there wouldn't be Tauranga rock'n'roll without her."
Lorraine was president of the club for a long time, was always involved, competed nationally and at local club championships, and was always busy on committees.
She taught beginners for many years and was one of Cindy's teachers.
"Lorraine is the embodiment of the perfect woman to me. She was just the most incredible woman. She was somebody who you would aspire to be," Cindy said.
She said Lorraine had a great sense of humour, an infectious laugh and always encouraged everybody to be the best they could be.
"She was a beautiful, elegant, very classy lady who loved life and had this amazing warmth about her. She embraced everybody she met."
On Wednesday, the day of Lorraine's funeral, her first great-grandson was born.
Baby Ted was born in the evening and although was not quite due, was a "very special little blessing" on what was a sad day for family and friends.
Lorraine is survived by her husband Ron, children Rochelle, Dean and the late Shayne and Deidre, her 13 grandchildren, one great-grandson and three stepsons.
