Miss Lorraine Gambone – We’ll miss you

Miss Lorraine Gambone – We’ll Miss You

3/2/2023

by Brian Coll

Miss Lorraine, even once I had an active role in the Conshohocken Free Library, I still always call you Miss Lorraine, not Lorraine, not Miss Gambone, you will always be Miss Lorraine to me.

I was so honored to attend the event where you were named Librarian of the Year by Pennsylvania State Senator Daylin Leach (forgive his exact title). You thanked the board and fellow staff members and patrons of the Conshohocken Free Library, when it should have been us thanking you.

I always enjoyed your sense of humor, so quick and witty, you had me chuckling more than you ever realized.

Having said all of that, it was when I started bringing my daughter into story time at the library that I will always remember. It was a wonderful experience, and you were so welcoming to everyone! We obviously knew each other, but you got to know my children. You were always so kind and amazing to them and every child who crawled on that floor while you read books, sang songs and used props to entertain everyone in the room. There will always be a special place in my heart for you and how you brought so many people together.

I grew up here, have a long-term group of great friends here, however, we all have kids at different ages. I was happy in life with the number of friends I had, and then my babies and I would go to story time at the Conshohocken Library. I would bring my mom with us as well and we got to meet other new parents and grandparents. I made new friends; my little girl has grown up with some of the little ones that would all be trying to grab the same toy. My Nora has been playing with her friends Shelby, Natalie and Louise (Louise’s mom Holly is our Librarian) since they were babies at the library. They are now Girl Scouts together and when they learned Miss Lorraine wasn’t doing well, they went to her house and sang Christmas Carols for her. These young ladies’ parents are some of the best people I know, and it was through Miss Lorraine. Miss Lorraine welcomed all of us into the community room at the library, we were all a little unsure about what our kids would be doing in these little groups, it turns out they were making friends, learning rhythm and rhymes. My little guy Rocco got to know one of his best friends Ashlyn through a story time or two at the Library and in class with each other. Her mom Jill is currently a member of the Friends of the Conshohocken Free Library.

Our Library won’t be the same without you. Our community won’t be the same without you. You made our little corner of the world a magical place. Miss Lorraine, you were the heart and soul of our little library. Miss Lorraine, I already miss you my friend.

Here is the official obituary: Obituary information for Lorraine M. Gambone (ciavarellifuneralhomes.com)