AUBURN — Lorraine L. Penley, 80, passed away on Dec. 14, in Auburn.

She was a bright spot in the lives of all who knew her. She will be remembered for her sweet spirit, devotion to her husband, family and friends, her sparkling blue eyes and legendary chocolate chip cookies.

Lorraine was born July 20, 1931, in Boston, and raised in Leeds by her grandparents, Alton and Della Howard. She graduated from Leavitt Institute in Turner in 1949.

Lorraine first caught the eye of her future husband, Maurice Penley, as she walked by his father’s farm to catch the school bus. Maurice and Lorraine Penley were married Sept. 9, 1950, and made a life together for 61 years.

The Penley family lived on West Dartmouth Street in Auburn and Maurice worked for the Post Office as a mail carrier, delivering mail to the people of Auburn.

For a time, Lorraine worked as a secretary at Berry Paper Co. in Lewiston and in retail at B. Peck in Lewiston and Owen Moore in Auburn, but she devoted most of her life to homemaking and raising three children.

In 1978, Maurice and Lorraine moved to a home on Bear Pond in Turner. In retirement, the couple spent happy days on the beach at Bear Pond and taking getaway trips to Caribbean Islands.

They also traveled extensively through the state of Maine, staying at bed-and breakfasts; when their children were young, they took many trips to a hunting camp in Upton. The couple also enjoyed traveling to Maurice’s Navy squadron reunions.

Lorraine played a huge part in the lives of her grandchildren and she loved taking care of them when they would come to Bear Pond for visits. She also loved outdoor recreation, from cross-country skiing to hiking Bear Mountain to pick blueberries. She loved to walk — for years, she and a group of friends would walk miles around Bear Pond every morning.

Lorraine is survived by her loving husband, Maurice, a resident of Schooner Estates in Auburn; her children, Maureen Poisson of Jay, Marcia Bray of Hebron, Conn., and Jay Penley of Hartford; she will always be loved and remembered by her eight grandchildren, Ross Poisson of Canton, Brett Poisson of Jay, Bethany Bray of Hamilton, Mass., Abigail Haynes of Rowley, Mass., Benjamin Bray of Hebron, Conn., Zachary Bray of Arlington, Va., Jayson Penley of Limington and Sara Nilges of Sabattus; as well as her seven great-grandchildren.

Online condolences and sharing of memories may be expressed at www.lynchbrothers.com.

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