Lorraine TIDEY Obituary

To Tom, Sam and Laura and families
I had the pleasure of teaching with Lorraine at both Khandallah and Churton Park schools and Lorraine taught my youngest son Hugo, who is now 26. He was devastated to hear that his Mrs Tidey had passed away and remembers her with great fondness.

Jane Hatley spoke about the Chattanooga concert item the youngest students at Khandallah School were performing and how it was "like herding cats". Hugo was in that item and it was a huge success. I know Lorraine would have accomplished this with great patience and kindness, she was that sort of person and that sort of teacher. She also knew before Hugo Phillips did, that he struggled being in front of the class to tell his news, and that for all his bravado, and overflowing self-confidence, that underneath it all, he was very shy. His beloved Mrs Tidey had his back and supported him in the classroom to be his very best.

It was such a pleasure to work with Lorraine for 16 years. She was the kind of colleague whom you could absolutely count on to put her hand up to do something, and she would approach something new with energy and positivity, often carrying others along with her in her quiet way.

I'm devastated to lose such an old friend and colleague. Lorraine was indeed a special person, showing kindness, empathy, patience and acceptance of students and colleagues alike. You could be guaranteed she would make your day brighter with a visit to her classroom.

All my love
Jude Phillips

Our son had Mrs. Tidey as his year 1 teacher in Churton Park school. He was new to New Zealand and everything was overwhelming for him. Thanks for being our staunchest support in making his initial years the most wonderful and memorable. You will forever be in our thoughts. The Christmas ornament that you gave away to all your students still has a pride of place on our tree. Our deepest condolences to the whole family.

Pramod,Smitha, Aadarsh and Akshata

Our dear friend Lorraine-We will never forget your beautiful heart and your beautiful soul.
We will look for you in every rainbow!

I’m Trudy and I’m going to speak on behalf of our group.
This is Judith, Lynda, and Annie and
we are the Kindy group.

Our journey with Lorraine began in the 1980s when we all lived in Johnsonville. In 1986 we met each other when our boys started Kindy together at the Johnsonville Main Kindergarten.

For the next 37 years together with our husbands, we became the Kindy Team. We shared so many amazing experiences and made wonderful memories as the Kindy Crew.

When our children were younger, we did all the usual family things together. We did the family dinners at each other’s houses, the walks, the children’s birthday parties, the high teas, the going out for dinners, the picnics and of course the sleep overs.
We went on camping and cabin trips all the way to Otaki and Paekakariki.

As our children got older, we got classier. We ditched the cabins, the tents and the kids. Actually, on reflection we think the kids may have ditched us! We hired motels and large houses and had weekend getaway trips all over New Zealand.
Our highlights included weekends away to Taupo, Wairarapa, Omouri, Christchurch and Rotorua.

And later on, we became really upmarket and planned special overseas holidays.
These holidays included trips to the Murray River, Coolum, Singapore and Malaysia.

In 2013 Lorraine and Tom went to live in Bristol in England for a year. Lynda Judith and Annie were so grateful for the fabulous opportunity of a UK adventure . I was living in Auckland at the time and didn’t make the cut. But as the girls pointed out later there was never going to be room for my bum in the back of the little blue Ford S8Max that Lorraine drove all over the UK.

As you can imagine over these years there have been many birthdays, many milestones and many anniversaries to celebrate.
And after all these years we still have our get togethers. And would you believe we have come full circle. We are back to the family dinners at each other’s houses, the walks, the children’s birthday parties, the high teas, the going out for dinners, the picnics and of course the sleep overs.

We have moved houses and suburbs. Our children have all grown up. We’ve attended our children’s weddings and many of our children now have their own children, and we are grandparents. Only Lynda and Bruce still live in Johnsonville.

But how great is it that we have kept our special friendship so strong and connected throughout these years.
In Fact, we’ve been together so long even the kindy where we first met has since been demolished.

And how lucky were we to have Lorraine as our friend. We admired Lorraine’s outlook on life. She was always positive and never moaned even when she had good cause to.

Lorraine was strong and brave and faced life’s hardships with a real strength of character.
Lorraine could see the good in everybody and everything. She never said anything mean about anybody-even when Lynda sometimes encouraged her to. And in reverse, No one ever said a bad word about Lorraine -She was that person that everyone liked and loved.

Lorraine was the calm, sensible one in our group. Lorraine always thought of others before herself. Our Lorraine had a great sense of humour She loved to laugh. She was kind and caring and had a big heart.

There are so many wonderful things that we could say about Lorraine. But my daughter Courtney summed it all up in a text she sent to me upon hearing that Lorraine had passed away.
Mum, she said, “Lorraine was one of the most beautiful people in the world”.

Thank you, Lorraine for being our special friend.
Thank you, for all that you brought to our lives.
We will miss you so much and our get togethers will never be the same without you. However, we can and we will cherish the many wonderful memories we have made and shared with you. Those memories are forever.

To Tom, Sam, Tonia and Hazel, Laura, Johann and Margo -We are so sad and devastated that you have lost your beloved wife, Mum and Nana.
She loved you all beyond ends. And Tom, remember you will always continue be a part of our kindy team.

They say grief is the price we pay for love, and we too know that grief because we loved Lorraine so dearly.
Rest in peace our dear friend -Aroha nui -We will love you and hold you in our hearts forever.

Love from Jeff and Trudy, Ken and Judith, Peter and Annie, and Bruce and Lynda XXXXXXXX.

So sorry to hear of Lorraines passing Tom She was such a happy caring friend and work colleague Always thought we would catch up again Our deepest condolences to you Tom Sam Laura and family Rosayne Bruce and family

So sorry to hear of Lorriane´s passing, such sad news. My son Jacob had her teach him for year 1&2 at Churton Park School, she was always so kind and patient and an amazing teacher. We will miss her. Rest in peace Lorriane xxxx Yvonne, John & Jacob Morris

The kindest, gentlest teacher who reached out when I was diagnosed in 2020. Kindness is what I´ll remember you for always. Fly free Lorraine x

I was lucky enough to have Lorraine as a colleague for 8 years and often got to see her in action. She was the kindest, most patient and loving teacher and made such a difference to those her were lucky enough to be in her classroom. I looked up to the calm she created in the classroom and how all the children knew they were in a safe and loving space. I loved working with Lorraine. She always welcomed you with a smile and was happy to help in any way no matter how busy she was. She made our workplace a better place.

My deepest condolences to Tom, Sam and Laura. I´m so sorry to not be able to there today but my thoughts are with you all.

Lorraine Tidey was my daughter's year 1 teacher at Churton Park school and was amazing! She will be remembered in our hearts as a kind and smart woman and we are sorry to hear of her passing at such a young age.

Our lovely Lorraine - you will be so missed. Thank you for your wisdom, positivity and calm demeanour in the classroom. You were a wonderful classroom teacher who cared deeply about every child you worked with. Our days as Team Ngahere will continue to be fondly remembered. Tom, Sam and Laura, my deepest condolences. Lorraine was the most beautiful person inside and out. Aroha nui, Kelly xxx

Here you are Lorraine in amongst your friends and colleagues of the junior syndicate of Khandallah School We all saw each other every school day for over 10 years. We laughed, we cried, we worked extremely hard. We became very good friends, we confided in each other and supported each other along the way. I don´t think we realised then that those years were going to be the most memorable and enjoyable years of our lives so far. We are devastated that you are no longer with us in person but you will always be with us in our memories.
Tom Sam and Laura, please know that your wife Tom and your mother Sam and Laura was a much loved friend and colleague. She was kind, thoughtful, generous and she displayed great courage and dignity.
Sally Shelley Jane Lisa Angela and Andrea.

Much aroha to the whanau. A beautiful, kind-hearted person that I had the pleasure to work with.

A beautiful person taken far to soon,sincere sympathy to you Tom and family may Lorane R,I.P.Elva and Peter Brown

Lorraine was such a beloved teacher and colleague. Her kindness and patience was legendary. She was humble and encouraging and one of the nicest people I have been lucky enough to meet. She will be remembered by many, many people, both large and small with great fondness. I am so sorry I can't be with you on Wednesday but my thoughts and love are with you all.

A very special teacher to both of my boys, and a lovely person. Our deepest condolences.