Lorraine Fawn Fantasia, known by her close friends and family as Fawn, died on Nov. 6, surrounded by family. She was 70.

Fawn was born June 22, 1955 in Bath, N.Y. to Edwin Devries Vanderhoop and Gloria Eudora Fisk.

She spent her childhood and adolescence traveling back and forth between upstate New York and her tribal homelands: Aquinnah (primarily known as Gay Head back then).

In 1973, she moved from her home in New York to Everett to live with her aunt Marjorie Galbraith where her journey into faith and relationship with Christ Jesus really took off. They would spend time in prayer, doing Bible study and serving the community — whether it was helping with local church revivals, feeding the homeless or providing aid and prayer support to people with various life struggles.

She learned and walked in the spirit of giving, listening and considering people not just at the surface, but on a soul level. She was a person who cared deeply about the spiritual wellness of those she interacted with, and a consistent prayer of hers throughout her years was that people would find Christ and be spiritually saved.

In 1974 she had her first son, Tobias J. Vanderhoop. They continued living with her aunt until 1982 when Fawn met her husband-to-be Edward while working at a mailing company called Watson Mailing. They lived together in Everett from 1983 until 1995 and had three more children together: Edward M. Fantasia (1986), Thomas J.A. Fantasia (1991) and Elsie C. C. Fantasia (1993).

In 1995 they moved to Medford and spent a few years there until moving back to the Vineyard in May of 1998. Fawn and her three youngest children stayed with her sister Trudy Garvin as Fawn and Ed were on a waiting list for a house within the Aquinnah Tribal Housing Authority.

In early 1999 the family moved in next door from the Garvin family and spent many years together there.

In 2000, tragedy struck as Fawn’s middle son Edward M. was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer. After being told he would only have weeks to live, Fawn and Ed made the decision to approve what was an experimental chemotherapy and radiation treatment option. The family spent many days and nights in prayer and leaned mightily on their faith. What began as a tragedy turned into testimony and triumph as Edward made it through his treatment and overcame the cancer. To this day, he remains well and cancer free. Many things that doctors had said he may not have ever been able to do again, he’s done and continues to do. He is a living testament of Fawn’s faith and dedication to God and her family.

In 2018, Fawn received some of the happiest news a mother gets to receive: she was to be a grandma! Elsie had her first child, Lincoln, and then in 2020 she had her second child, Alina. Fawn absolutely adored and cherished her grandchildren and did whatever she could to support them and spend time with them. They were immeasurably precious to her and made her latter years total bliss.

A core tenant of Fawn’s character was serving her neighbors. While living with her aunt, she spent time participating and helping her aunt lead church revivals, as well as lending aid to the homeless.

After moving to the Vineyard, she was active in serving both her local church community and tribal community. She served as a deaconess as well as assisting in various capacities on the board for the Gay Head Baptist Church. She also served on the Tribal Council for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah). Fawn also participated in various cultural events, encouraging her children to be active in the community as well.

She spent many years as a skilled scallop shucker, and would craft necklaces from the shells of the scallops she would shuck. Often these crafts were given to friends and family as gifts for various occasions or to simply help congratulate someone’s accomplishments.

She is survived by her husband Edward Fantasia, children Tobias J. Vanderhoop, Edward M. Fantasia, Thomas J. A. Fantasia, and Elsie C. C. Scott, her 2 grandchildren Lincoln and Alina Scott, as well as her mother Gloria E. Fisk and siblings Anita M. Keegan, Leonard C. Vanderhoop, Edwin J. Vanderhoop, Cheryl L. Vanderhoop and Gertrude “Trudy” E. Garvin.

Fawn will be remembered for being a kind and strong spirit, full of love, compassion and faith. She now rests lovingly in the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

A celebration of her life was held on Nov. 15 at the Gay Head Baptist Church and burial followed in the Gay Head Cemetery.