Loretta C. Cunningham

Loretta C. Cunningham passed away peacefully on December 29, 2024, at the age of 95, in Maumee, Ohio. She was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on December 7, 1929, to the late Benjamin and Margaret (Miller) Castle. Loretta graduated from Collinwood High School in Cleveland, Ohio. She married Raymond James Cunningham in June 1951, and as a newly wedded couple they resided in Columbus, GA, while Ray was stationed at Lawson Air Force Base at Fort Benning during the Korean War. Ray and Loretta returned to Cleveland where Ray started his career with Standard Oil Company. Loretta attended Cleveland College before getting married and later returned to her studies to receive a degree from Lake Erie College. After graduating, she worked as an executive assistant for Lubrizol for many years before retiring.

Loretta was an avid reader of books, enjoyed playing cards, especially Bridge, and more recently the game of Scrabble with her daughters. Loretta and Ray also enjoyed music and the performing arts, often attending concerts by The Cleveland Orchestra and shows in the Playhouse Square theaters or at Rabbit Run Theater. Having moved to Mentor, Ohio, in the early 1960’s Ray and Loretta raised eight children there and attended St Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church and later Divine Word Catholic Church in Kirtland, Ohio. They moved to Carolina Lakes in Sanford, NC, in 1991 where they spent many years as retirees and made special friends before returning to Ohio to reside in Canal Fulton and be closer to family. Loretta loved her family deeply, was thoughtful, caring and kind and her motherly, compassionate presence will be deeply missed.

In addition to her parents, Loretta was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, Raymond James Cunningham; son, Dennis Cunningham; and daughter, Mary Ann Cunningham (Michael) Del Medico.

She is lovingly survived by her children, Laura Adams, Robert Cunningham, Carolyn (Jim) Sulewski, Janice Koury, Amy (John) Zurawka, and Therese Cunningham, as well as ten grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and one great-great grandson.

Friends are welcome to visit at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 175 E. 200th Street, Euclid, OH 44119, on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, from 11 am - 12 pm with funeral Mass to follow at 12 pm. Interment will follow Mass at Lake View Cemetery, 12316 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, 44106.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a local hospice organization of your choice.