Lorraine Dolores Ferra

Lorraine Ferra January 16,1940 to December 23, 2024

Lorraine Ferra was born and raised in Vallejo, California, a seaport on the east side of the San Francisco Bay. She was a nun for seven years in a community in Fremont, California, where she majored in education and theology and taught in elementary and secondary schools. After leaving the convent, she pursued seminars in modern and contemporary poetry under the directorship of Robert Mezey at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. 

She moved to Port Townsend in 1988 and taught creative writing as a poet-in-residence in the local schools for many years, as well as in schools across the country. Her passion for teaching was motivated by her students’ discoveries of their own unique creativity through the writing process.

Lorraine was the author of several books of poetry, and the latest, Between Darkness & Trust, was a finalist for the 2019 WA State Book Award.

Lorraine is survivied by Deborah Trent, her loving spouse of 30 years, her sister, Mary Ann Bea, nephews: Steven Sousa, Dennis Sousa, and Frank Sousa, and niece, Kimberlee Bea.

Contributions in Lorraine’s honor can be made to Port Townsend Education Foundation, Use for Salish Coast Elementary Literary Arts, PO Box 1867, Port Townsend, WA 98368.