Zella Grant

(aka Lorraine Schantz, Lorraine Forehead, Lorraine Gerry)

Zella Grant nee Lorraine Schantz passed away peacefully at The Nebraska Masonic Home on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at the age of 103. She was a remarkable woman who lived an exciting, interesting and fun life. She will be remembered for her zest for life; for her compassion for all God’s creatures, great and small, and for her steadfast courage.

Preceded in death by her loving husbands: Philip H. Forehead, Ralph Gerry, and the Honorable John T. Grant; and her oldest son, James P. Forehead. Survived by children, Sharon (Ken) Jones, Stephen P.(Cindy) Forehead, David P. (Tik) Forehead, Daniel P. (Laura) Forehead, Jeffrey P. (Sheryl) Forehead; grandchildren, Erik Forehead, Alisha Palagi, Mia (Chris) Palagi-Glass, Chelsea Forehead, Alex (Chelsey) Forehead, Jordan (Lucas) Carmichael, Samantha (Greg)Sullivan, and great-grandchildren; Emma Glass, Jackson Glass, Caden Forehead, Stella Forehead, and Cora Forehead. Also survived by step-children, Martha Bruckner, Joseph (Mary) Grant and Sue (Carolyn) Grant.

People are curious about the number of names Zella had. When she was 78, when she was Lorraine Grant, she went to court and legally changed her first name to Zella. People who knew her called her “The Z” or “Zella the Great”. She loved her name! Each of the three times she married, her last name changed to her husband’s. She married three wonderful and remarkable men who loved her to the moon and back!

Zella loved to entertain. She was known to throw unique and spectacular parties; often with live music, hired bartenders, catered food, and party games. If you were invited to one of her parties, she guaranteed you would never forget it. Until her mid-60’s, she stood on her head every year on her birthday. This was an annual highly-anticipated family event!

She cherished her friendships and worked at making and keeping life-long friends. Her “sewing club” friends began meeting every week in 1946 while their husbands studied at Creighton Law School and the club continued for 50 years. As she grew older, she set Monday morning aside to call friends to check on them. She was intensely loyal. You didn’t want to hurt anyone she loved, especially her children, because you would have to tangle with a tiger!

She was a big tipper! She loved giving strangers money for doing their jobs. The older she got the more she gave. Once on a trip to see the Hoover Dam, she tipped the bus driver eighty dollars! If we scolded her about these excesses, she would say, “let me feel good.” She was not wealthy by any means but lived like she was. She lived LARGE.

Zella had a flair for decorating. Her home always looked as if it had been professionally decorated. She could pick out the most expensive item in a store without even trying. Her house appeared as if it was the home of a much younger person. When she moved to The Nebraska Masonic Home, staff liked to show visitors her apartment as a model for how fun it could be there.

Whatever she did, she gave 1,000 percent. She was an active member at All Saints Episcopal Church for many years and served as Altar Guild president, St. Margaret’s Guild president, and she chaired luncheons and hosted at weddings, etc. Zella served as secretary of Omaha Law Wives, was president of the American Legion Post 1 Women’s Auxiliary, president of Chapter M, PEO; and was a Girl Scout leader. She dressed dolls for the Salvation Army and always won first prize.

Always eager to try something new, Zella took a hot air balloon ride when she was 68 and para-sailed when she was 79. She wrote her memoirs when she was 93. She had a pair of Prada dark glasses and wore them everywhere both inside and out. Zella was, indeed, a free spirit!

Her favorite cocktail was a Manhattan, “on the rocks with no cherry. It takes up too much space. If it isn’t made right, I send it back! Cheers!”

We will love you forever Mom!

Zella Grant is preceded in death by her husbands: Philip Forehead, Ralph Gerry and John T. Grant; son, James Forehead; grandson, Jerome Forehead.  Survived by her children, Sharon (Ken) Jones, Stephen (Cindy) Forehead, David (Tik) Forehead, Daniel (Laura) Forehead, Jeffrey, (Sheryl) Forehead; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; her extended family and many good friends.

MEMORIAL Service Thursday, November 2, 2023, at 11am, at All Saints Episcopal Church.   The service will be livestreamed at All Saints Episcopal Church - Omaha | Omaha NE | Facebook 

VISITATION with the family one hour prior to the service at church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to All Saints Episcopal Church or the Omaha Humane Society.