Help us celebrate Lorraine Schwass, a long time supporter of Sun Foundation.

Lorraine Roliardi Schwass, 75, of Toluca passed away on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at OSF St. Anthony's Medical Center in Rockford, surrounded by family.

Lorraine was born on February 16, 1951, to John "Russo" and Helen (Turczyn) Roliardi. She married her husband, Jim Schwass, on October 12, 1985 in Mackinaw, IL. They met through a shared love of living history reenactment.

Beading class with Lorraine

At  Art and Science in the Woods Lorraine wore many hats over the years. She served as a  teaching assistant to Dr. Merrill Foster and shared her enthusiasm for geology with hundreds of students. She also taught her own beading classes. In recent years she arrived early in the morning to prepare and serve coffee with a smile to grateful instructors and volunteers. 

She loved spending time at "Mr. DePauw's neighborhood" at the end of each day of camp week with fellow "Sun Family" members.  She was always there to support fundraising events and if extra help was ever needed she was always one of the first to respond. 

Julia Schwass foreground and Lorraine Schwass background

Her daughter Julia attended ASIW as a student, as a volunteer and Julia now teaches Fiber Arts and

knitting - carrying on her mother's legacy to the Sun Foundation. 

Lorraine with Joan Root Ericksen and Photographer, Leonid Kozintsev at the Clean Water Celebration

At the Sun Foundation annual Clean Water Celebration, Lorraine would anchor the Sun Foundation booth, sharing her knowledge of the organization.

Here she also managed event t-shirt sales and pick-up. 

Lorraine served on the committee for the Regional Arts Partners program

Lorraine also served on the Sun Foundation board as a director, as board chair and was the current board’s Treasurer.