Obituary of Lorraine M. LaTendresse

Lorraine Marva "Rene" LaTendresse died on February 3rd in Aptos, California at the age of ninety. Rene is survived by her nieces and nephew, Lori LaTendresse, Amy Fitzpatrick, and Dan LaTendresse, as well as her cousin, Valerie Smith. Her parents, Moise and Clarice LaTendresse, of Santa Cruz, California and her brother, John LaTendresse, of Bethesda, Maryland, precede her in death. Rene was born on February 16, 1924 in Red Lake Falls, Minnesota to Moise and Clarice LaTendresse. She graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1946 with a degree in Fine Arts and Psychology. As was one of the early uniformed women officers of the US Armed Forces, she achieved the distinction of First Lieutenant. She was also one of the early recruited and trained commercial airline flight attendants, giving her access to her pursuit of world travel and culture. Rene was an elementary school teacher in Santa Cruz, California, bringing her knowledge, passion, and devotion to the arts and culture into the classroom for over 20 years. She was also an accomplished photographer and her work captured the scenic landscapes and seascapes of Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay. Many of her photos were made into post cards sold by local businesses. Rene will be dearly missed by her family and friends. She was their source for deep meaningful friendships, creativity, and knowledge. Her spirit lives on through the hearts and minds of those she touched and inspired.