NORWICH – Loretta Tripp, 78, of Norwich, passed away Thurs. morning, Feb. 24, 2011, in the Wilson Regional Hospital of Johnson City, following a short illness.
The daughter of Joseph and Elsie Dominic Menard, Loretta was born in Oxford in June of 1932 and was a graduate of the Oxford schools. She and husband Al Tripp began their 58 years of marriage in St. Joseph’s Church in Oxford on Jan. 25, 1953. Loretta’s first job was working for Earl Sincerbox in the office of the Chenango Cooperative Insurance Company. She later had short stretches of employment with the Norwich Pharmacal Company and GLA, but will be best remembered for the 44 years she worked for Dr. Richard Hosbach. Loretta knew what a day’s work was. While employed outside her home, she still remained focused on caring for her family. She had a talent for interior decoration which made her home a pleasant place to be. She enjoyed her rock garden and flowers, was known as a good cook whose mac and cheese was superior, and she loved making cookies at Christmas. She was a quiet, well spoken lady, and an excellent seamstress and knitter.
Loretta is survived by her husband, Al Tripp of Norwich; and her children and their spouses: Sharon and John Provo, Terry and Bob Collins, John and Cindy Tripp, Donna and Phil Ham, all of Norwich, Kathy and Hayne Smith of McGraw, Sandy and Mark Nigolian of Burlington, Vermont, and Jennifer and Scott Bixler of Trenton, Ga. Also surviving are her grandchildren and their spouses: Brianne and Mike Fracassi, Joseph and Laura Provo, Kelly and Nick Colosi, Sam Distefano, Vincent Distefano, Adrien Smith, Greta Smith, Anna, Sophie and Grace Nigolian, and Ellie and Ethan Bixler; two great grandchildren; Loretta’s sisters and brother: Sylvia and Victor Laskowski of Endicott, Debbie and Bill Smith of Newark Valley, Armond and Helena Menard of Oxford; and nieces and nephews. Loretta was predeceased by her son, James Tripp; her granddaughter, Emily Collins; and brothers Joseph and David Menard.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Loretta was held at 11 a.m. Monday from St. Bartholomew’s Catholic Church. The Rev. Ralph Bove, pastor, officiated. Interment will be at a later date in St. Paul’s Cemetery. Friends paid their respects at the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home on Sunday from 3-6 p.m.
Please consider memorial contributions to the Norwich High School, c/o R.E.K. Scholarship Fund, 89 Midland Drive, Norwich, NY 13815.