Lorraine Genevieve Laiwa

Lorraine Genevieve Laiwa April 28, 1935 - May 18, 2024.

Lorraine was born in Manchester, California to parents Angelo Laiwa (Manchester Point Arena Pomo) and Bertha Antone (Kashia Pomo). Lorraine, “Granny”, began her journey home surrounded by loved ones on May 18 at the age of 89. 

Lorraine was born and raised on the Point Arena reservation by her parents and then her great aunt, Ella White. She attended schools in Point Arena and graduated a Point Arena Pirate in 1953. Lorraine was popular in high school. She was a band majorette and played basketball on the boy's team. As soon as Lorraine turned 18 and graduated from high school, she left the reservation and began working for the Folgers family in St Helena. Shortly after, Lorraine met her ex-husband, Alfred Elgin Jr. (“Tupe” - Dry Creek Pomo) through her cousin while attending church camp meetings. Lorraine and Tupe became pen pals while he served in Korea. Once Tupe left the service the two met up again at church. After marriage, they had seven children and Lorraine lived as a homemaker for two decades while Tupe attended bible college and worked the ranches in the early years. Throughout her lifetime Lorraine moved with her family from Sonoma County to Nevada, Oakland, Virginia, and settled back on the Point Arena Reservation for the last 30+ years. 

Once all her children were raised, Lorraine started working for the Sonoma County Senior Nutrition Program. She loved working with Native elders. After working with seniors for a decade, Lorraine switched careers and went to work in one of the first Indian child welfare programs, Eagle Child, after the passage of the ICWA in 1978. Lorraine attended some college courses at the local community college. Lorraine co-founded the Indian Child and Family Preservation Program in 1988, representing most, if not all, Pomo tribes located within Lake, Mendocino, and Sonoma Counties. Lorraine was a fierce court advocate, serving as a qualified expert witness for over twenty years, until she became the Executive Director of the program. Lorraine retired in December 2019 after serving over forty years primarily for the Coyote Valley, Lytton Rancheria, Kashia Band, Manchester Point Arena, and Dry Creek Rancheria tribes. Lorraine absolutely loved working with her families and keeping children within their communities.

Lorraine was regarded as a cultural expert, often called to provide prayers and opening blessings, bestowing Indian names on numerous children. Lorraine was a traditional dancer, singer, and expert seamstress. Lorraine was self-taught and used her mother’s handmade patterns to create roundhouse skirts and outfits for hundreds of women and girls throughout her life. Lorraine devoted time every year to preserving traditional food practices, gathering seaweed, preparing acorn mush and kutchnee. Lorraine taught many grandchildren and relatives these traditions. 

Lorraine loved spending time in her garden, tending to her flowers and plants. Lorraine loved watching sports, her favorite teams included the SF Giants and Warriors. One of her favorite pastimes was listening to her brother play his guitar and she was a beautiful dancer. Lorraine was known to be lucky at many local casinos and loved visiting with friends and family within the community. Everyone who knew her was always greeted with a beautiful smile and made to feel valued and loved in her presence. For those of us lucky enough to call her mom, auntie, and granny, our hearts will forever ache at her loss.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her sons Alfred Elgin III, Matthew, and Charles Lucas. Also preceded in death too by parents Angelo and Bertha, sisters Sharon and Louise, and brothers Clarence and Kenneth. She is survived by sisters Delphine and Stella, and brother Dennis Carl. She leaves behind four daughters Lorilie Fakhouri, Lisa Elgin, Lydia Aguayo, and Elizabeth Elgin DeRouen; grandchildren Kirby, Ross, Alexis, Jordan, Laila, Shikira, LeVon, Nathanial, Hailey, Elena, and Elliott; and great-grandchildren Loviyona, Tatiana, Laiwa, Lennox, Paulino, Audriana, Latrell, Talon, Naima, Marcus, Ruby, Jade, Ophelia, Koa, Mila, Isla, and Khalil. 

A viewing for Lorraine will be held on May 28th, from 5-8PM at Lafferty and Smith Colonial Chapel (4321 Sonoma Hwy, Santa Rosa, CA 95409). A memorial celebrating Lorraine will be held on May 29th, from 10AM to 12PM at Lafferty & Smith. Immediately following services on the 29th, Lorraine will be laid to rest in Point Arena at the Oddfellow’s Cemetery on Shoreline Highway 1. A reception at the Point Arena HS gym will follow at 4pm.

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