Lorette P. Wambach

Lorette Pauline (LaLonde) Wambach, age 98, died June 11, 2025, lovingly surrounded by her children in her final days. She was born on July 28, 1926, in Milwaukee, WI, to Henrietta (Verbeten) LaLonde and Paul LaLonde. She married Bill Wambach on August 14, 1948, and they were happily married for 71 years before his passing in 2019.

Lorette attended the St Agnes Hospital School of Nursing (which later merged with Marian University’s nursing program) as part of her acceptance into the Cadet Nurse Corps WW II program. Her first job was with the Milwaukee Health Department TB clinic. She remained an active and licensed RN while raising eight children.

Accepting, inviting and welcoming, Lorette served as a connector to her ever-widening circle of friends. She gifted many of them with her handmade masks during Covid, quilted placemats and table runners, which she was still sewing in recent months. She enjoyed her many friendships at Regency Place.

Intellectually curious, spiritual, and a lifelong learner, Lorette embraced life with an open mind and a deep sense of purpose. She enjoyed many Elderhostel trips and kept up with her relatives through emails, video calls, and online games. She and Bill were actively involved in the Catholic church and filled their free time volunteering, biking, skiing, and golfing with friends and family. They jointly received the Sun Prairie Book of Golden Deeds award. She taught water aerobics and Bridge well into her 90s. Receiving a FaceTime call from Lorette was a regular occurrence right up until the end.

Lorette learned the joy of gardening through her dad. She had a special fondness for sunflowers. She held an annual sunflower contest for her children and grandchildren. After 40+ years, sunflowers bloom from Florida to Seattle in her honor.

Lorette is survived by children, William Wambach (Debra Simon), Julie (James) Hermanson, Ann (Scott) Blackman, Margaret (Gustavo) Gamero, and Martha (John) Fechner; 14 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Marilyn LaLonde, Julie Wambach SSND, and Veronica Sudbrink; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William T. Wambach, Jr.; parents; children, Mary, Peter, and Katherine; grandson, Matthew Calvano; sister, Lucienne (Gerald) Bittl and brother Jerome LaLonde; and in-laws, James (Shirley) Wambach, Theodore Wambach, Harold Sudbrink, Thomas (Jo-Ann) Wambach, and Therese (Thomas) Kaemmerer.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, July 11, 2025, at St. Albert the Great Catholic Church, 2420 St. Albert the Great Drive, Sun Prairie, WI with Monsignor Larry Bakke presiding. Visitation will be at the church from 9:30 AM until the time of Mass. A luncheon at the church will immediately follow. The family wishes to thank the SSM Palliative Care and Prairie Gardens staff for their compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made to the Colonial Club https://www.colonialclub.org/giving or The Beacon https://catholiccharitiesofmadison.org/the-beacon/donate/

Cress Funeral Service

1310 Emerald Terrace, Sun Prairie, WI 53590

608-837-9054