Lorraine Margaret Hughes passed away peacefully in her home in the care of her family on Saturday, January 11th, 2025. She was born July 6th, 1945, in the city of Detroit to Leonard and Olga Walker. She enjoyed her years at Dominican High School and the University of Detroit where she was the first in her family to graduate with a BA degree. She worked in social work before starting a family with her husband of 56 years. She was a warm and loving mother with a lively intellect and sense of humor. She had a love of reading that she shared with her children and grandchildren through cozy read alouds, library visits, book clubs and audiobooks. She moved frequently with her young family to support her husband’s early career, always in a positive spirit.

She was a passionate person that lived her values and was engaged in her community, particularly around issues of peace and justice. She was a member of Tri-City Action for Peace, left the warmth of her home to demonstrate in front of the County Courthouse for peace, wrote numerous letters as a call to action and donated to related causes. She went to Washington D.C. to march for equal rights for women in 1978 and for many years volunteered for the Saginaw Underground Railroad, supporting victims of domestic abuse. She cared deeply for the earth, modeling reducing, reusing and recycling, and hiked regularly in Northern Michigan, Canada and Colorado with her family well into her 70s. She was a Master Gardener that carefully planted and tended a large perennial garden that her family and wildlife continue to enjoy.

Once her children were in school, she began working as a Manager for HealthSource Saginaw Gift Shop where she volunteered for 28 years. Lorraine was a creative person and used her talents to decorate and raffle off Christmas trees each year to raise funds for the hospital. She became a vegetarian in her 50s and developed a family reputation as an excellent cook that loved to prepare involved and healthy meals for her growing extended family. She was also an accomplished baker, making pies from scratch with perfect crusts, especially pumpkin and apple. She enjoyed the arts with her husband, regularly attending the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and concerts at Hill Auditorium, and plays in Saginaw, Ann Arbor, Chicago and Stratford, ON. She was also a long-time parishioner at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Freeland, regularly volunteering her time.

Lorraine is survived by her husband, Dr. John Hughes, her children Jennifer Bellini, Caroline Hughes, Joe Hughes, Marianne Joiner-Hughes (Stubbs); grandchildren Joseph Bellini, Emma Bellini, Eli Hughes, Gabriel Joiner, Rhiannon Joiner; sisters Kathy Heid and Pat Michaels; brothers and sisters-in-law Gary (Fran) Hughes, Robert Hughes, and Mark Hughes; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Leonard and Olga Walker; brothers-in-law Frank Heid and Greg Michaels and sister-in-law Mary Beth Hughes. The Hughes family would like to thank caregivers from A&D for their compassionate care of Lorraine.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorial donations to The Little Traverse Conservancy, Amnesty International USA or charity of your choice. Arrangements entrusted to Cederberg-Brietzke Funeral Home of Saginaw.

Private Celebration of Life at a later date.

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