Lorraine O. Piazza, 99, of Orland, CA, passed away suddenly on October 12, 2026.

Born on June 12, 1927, in Sunbeam, Colorado, to Mason Oliver “Ollie” and Frances Brouse as the first of seven children, Lorraine enjoyed a long, healthy, and happy life filled with love, warmth, and devotion to her family and friends.

When Lorraine was 9 years old, her family moved from their Colorado homestead to Orland as part of a government program, purchasing 78 acres of land north of town, where they started a dairy and alfalfa farm. After graduating from Orland High School, she was hired at T.M. Duché Nut Co., beginning a career that spanned 45 years and ending as the Export Sales and Shipping Coordinator until retirement in 1990. While working at Duché, she met and began dating Joseph Anthony Piazza. They were married on October 11, 1947 and together they built a life centered on love of family and community service. Beyond marriage, motherhood, and employment, Lorraine had an outgoing, positive spirit and loved gardening, books, games, needlework and visiting with family and friends.

Lorraine was a longstanding member of the Federated Church of Orland and a present or past member of several community organizations, including the Friends of the Orland Free Library, the Federated Church Women, the Orland Women’s Improvement Club, the Rebekah Lodge and the Women of the Moose Lodge. She often held positions in these organizations, notably Treasurer of the Federated Church and Federated Church Women, Co-Treasurer of the Friends of the Library, Secretary of the Federated Church Board of Elders, and Coordinator of Communications at the Federated Church, where she compiled the newsletter and several lovely binders of church history. She could regularly be found volunteering around town at such functions as blood drives, book sales, and as a greeter at church.

She is survived by her daughters Kathy Walker of Avon, IN (husband, Kevin) and Karen Gilmet of Orland (husband, Joe); sisters Virginia Piazza (Grass Valley, CA), Beverly O’Saben (Westville, IN) and Carolyn Pearson (Pasadena, CA); grandchildren Marisa McQuaid (Avon, IN), Cory Gilmet (Orland), Joe Gilmet (Joplin, MO), Scott Gilmet (Joplin, MO); and six great-grandchildren.

Services will be held on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at the Federated Church, 709 1st St, Orland, CA. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am with the funeral service at 11:00 am, graveside service following at the IOOF (Odd Fellows) Cemetery, 3900 County Road P, Orland, then returning to the Federated Church for a reception.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Lorraine’s memory to the Federated Church of Orland or the Friends of the Orland Free Library.