Obituary of Lorraine Benedict Kress

Lorraine Benedict Kress died peacefully on the evening of April 17, 2020. She was 85 years old. She will be remembered for her musical talent, her earnest faith, and her warmth and generosity to friends and strangers alike. Lorraine is survived by her children Peter (Audrey), David (Nora), Lucien (Julie), Kenneth (Jiyoung), and Timothy (Angel), and by thirteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Lorraine Mable Benedict was born to Lucien and Mabel Benedict in St. Johnsbury, Vermont in 1934. She graduated from St. Johnsbury Academy in 1952, the University of Vermont (B.S. Music Education) in 1956, and the University of Southern California (M.S. Education) in 1988. She married Arnold Kress of Albany, New York in 1958. After serving at Nashua Orthodox Presbyterian Church (PA) for several years, Arnold and Lorraine went to Japan as missionaries for more than twenty years, first with the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and later with Christian Reformed Japan Mission (now Resonate Global Mission). During a furlough in the mid-seventies, Arnold and Lorraine served at Hope Reformed Church in Clifton, New Jersey. After retiring from missionary work in 1993, Arnold and Lorraine served at Buskirk Reformed Church (NY) and at Peniel Bible Conference (NY). In later years, Arnold and Lorraine returned to Japan several times to participate in short-term mission and disaster recovery work. Throughout her career, Lorraine shared her musical gifts in the form of piano recitals and performances, church music accompaniment, direction of choirs and musical drama performances, and music lessons. In addition, she led Bible studies and English classes, and provided a vital collaborative role in Arnold and Lorraine’s missionary and pastoral work. Lorraine moved to Granite Farms Estate in Media, Pennsylvania with her husband in 2012 and had lived there since. They were members of Trinity Christian Reformed Church in Broomall. Arnold died in 2018.