Lorna Reding

Lorna was born in Southampton, New York on the East End of Long Island, the daughter of Austin Squires Van Scoy and Elizabeth Robertson (Foggo) Van Scoy.

At an early age, she was given the nickname “Noni,” and it stayed with her for her entire life. Lorna grew up in a section of Hampton Bays known as Squiretown, where she lived until she entered nursing school at Columbia University Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing in New York City, graduating in 1947.

In 1952, she married a Belgian psychiatrist whom she met during her time at Columbia. Following their marriage, Lorna and her husband moved to Switzerland, and then in 1956 to his native Belgium. All four of their children were born in either Geneva or Brussels. Eventually, the family relocated to the U.S., first to Chicago, then Malone; Bradford, Pennsylvania; and Holmdel, New Jersey.

Following her divorce and after her children left home, Lorna moved to Upper Jay, where she was a longtime resident. She has also resided in Peru, New York; Fort Myers, Florida; and Plattsburgh.

Lorna was fiercely proud of her career as a nurse. But there’s no doubt her greatest joy and pride came from her role as a mother. And she was a wonderful, loving mother to all of her children, and a doting grandmother.Lorna loved cooking and she excelled at it. Her French-style cuisine was heavily influenced by her time in Europe. From early on, she was a proponent of “health foods.” Staying true to herbelief in feeding her family pure foods, while residing in Malone she had a large organic vegetable garden and raised chickens, goats and geese. She enjoyed playing cards, reading and watching TV in her spare time — and loved spending time with her family. Always outspoken and a believer in doing what’s right, perhaps the quintessential Lorna Reding is summed up in a front page Wall Street Journal article in 1989 that quoted Lorna as the leader of a group in Upper Jay fighting against the spraying of pesticides to control black flies.

Described as the “fuming Lorna Reding,” she is quoted as saying, “I’m infuriated that taxpayer money is being used to poison us.”

Lorna was predeceased by her daughter, Annie, and her four siblings: Kenneth “Cap” Van Scoy, Sheila Dingley, Jane Van Scoy, and Joan Van Scoy. She is survived by her three sons (Andrew, Paul and Phil), daughters-in-law (Rosa and Nancy), five grandchildren whom she loved dearly (Stephen, Laurianne, Emily, Luke, and Katie), and two great-grandchildren (Annie and Erik). To her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she was known as Grandma Noni. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Elfrieda (Ginny) Van Scoy of Squiretown, six nieces and three nephews.

In accordance with her wishes, Lorna will return to Maine, a place she adored, where her remains will join those of her beloved daughter, Annie.