Loretta Jane Pelaia

Loretta Jane Pelaia, 85, passed away peacefully on August 29, 2023, in Alpharetta, Georgia. She was a long-time resident of Peekskill, New York, where she was also born and raised. She moved to Georgia in late 2002 when she and her husband, Dr. Ralph M. Pelaia, retired and traded winter weather for the ability to enjoy being outside almost year-round. A graduate of Peekskill High School Class of 1956, and Peekskill Hall of Honor inductee, she maintained contact with many friends from her high school days and helped plan many of her class reunions. Loretta and Ralph were founding members of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Peekskill and were instrumental in helping it grow and flourish with several other families, many of whom remain lifelong friends. She was involved in Girl Scouts, as a Scout herself and then as leader for her daughter’s troops. Loretta served as a Board Member and the first female President of the Lincoln Society of Peekskill, was active in local Peekskill politics where she helped get the former Mayor of Peekskill elected as the Governor of New York State and helped bring the Lincoln Depot Museum to Peekskill. In addition to her civic contributions, she raised five children and was involved in supporting their many extracurricular activities. In 1980 she co-founded and operated “Just for You Flowers & Gifts,” a full-service floral shop, in Montrose, New York with her cousin and best friend Geraldine Cole. Loretta was a talented floral designer, and the shop became a local gathering place for more than 15 years. Together they provided flowers for many events around Peekskill, Montrose, Verplanck, Town of Cortlandt, and beyond. Loretta was passionate about genealogy research, enjoyed gardening, decorating, entertaining, crafting, art museums, shopping, traveling, Irish music, and spending time with family and friends. She especially enjoyed the years boating on the Hudson River and then on Lake Lanier after moving to Georgia. She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Ralph, also of Alpharetta, Georgia, daughter Elaine, son Michael, son-in-law Greg Bruner, son-in-law Peter Martin, all of Georgia, son Christopher of New York, daughter Carole of Florida, grandchildren Lindsay Martin of Washington, DC, twins Patrick Martin of Connecticut and Tucker Martin of Maryland, and Michael Bruner of Florida, sister-in-law Mari Estelle Marcus of Michigan, and several cousins, nieces and nephews. Loretta was predeceased by her parents, Margaret and Russell Hoffman, her beloved daughter Kathleen Martin and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. She also leaves behind many other close friends, the children of close friends and her children’s friends who have stayed in direct contact to this day. Special childhood connections, sisters Janet Mills and Carole Vereline, and Loretta’s cousin Kathleen Deshetler, were welcomed by her as sisters and have remained lifelong friends. The family wishes to extend gratitude to the many caretakers, staff and leadership at Village Park Alpharetta for their kindness and care from the moment Loretta and Ralph became residents in the summer of 2021, to Sophia and Nancy from Visiting Angels, and to the incredibly caring and supportive team from Agape Hospice. A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, September 30th at 11:00 AM at Northside Chapel, 12050 Crabapple Road in Roswell, Georgia, with a lunch reception immediately following nearby. A second Celebration of Life service and visitation will be scheduled in Peekskill, New York in early November, with details to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers any memorial donations be made to the Lincoln Depot Museum in Peekskill, New York (https://lincolndepotmuseum.org/product/make-donation/), or the Alzheimer’s Association (https://alz.org/donate).

Loretta Jane Pelaia

February 16, 1938 - August 29, 2023