LORRAINE CAROL PALSON

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

LORRAINE CAROL PALSON June 14, 1939 - November 12, 2011 It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our mother, grandmother and wife. Lorraine will be lovingly missed by her husband Gunnar; children, Karen and Terry (Sarah); and grandchildren, Austin, Morgan, Autumn and Little Gunnar. Mom was predeceased by her parents, Lawrence and Carol Kernested of Husavik; in-laws, Anna and Gunnar Palson of Arnes; brothers-in-law, Vincent Palson, Raymond Smith, Fred Makara, Norman Johnson; and sisters-in-law, Joy Pickering, Gay Johnson and Gerri Palson. She is also survived by her brother Conrad Kernested (Marlene); brothers-in-law, Fred (Sandi), Victor (Donna), John (Kathy) and Orville Pickering. Also sisters-in-law, Dora Smith, Lillian Makara, Fay (Richard) Hjorliefson and Francine (Doug) Albertson, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and many friends. Mom grew up in Husavik, MB, where she attended Kjarna School and excelled in art. She started sketching with pencil and painted with school water colours at an early age, always encouraged by her mother who gave Lorraine her first oil paint set. She treasured those paints as this finally gave her canvases colour. After school she went to Winnipeg where she enrolled in a comptometer class for computers. She then got a job at Canada Safeway in the head office. With a new office job and no money, she realized she needed nice clothes for work. This hayseed business would never do! She went to a fabric shop, bought patterns and material and began to make her first outfit. She worked all night on it, but it was ready by morning. Each night she made an outfit until she had a wardrobe. Soon after, some of the other girls in the office got a glimpse of her fashion; they were asking her to make them suits also. Several years later she met the love of her life, Gunnar. After marrying him, she moved to the Palson homestead, where they farmed, commercial fished and raised their family. Lorraine, talented at so many things and always completed her works to perfection, whether it was a painting, patchwork quilt, a meal or a batch of smoked goldeye. Her smoked goldeye were the best in the world and will never be replicated. As years passed, she continued to paint periodically, but found it hard to devote so much time to her artwork and still maintain an immaculate home, yard, garden, and all the other duties that came with being a fisherman's wife. Her cooking was fabulous and there was nothing she wouldn't make like homemade salmon from suckers (mullet), rullapylsa and endless other foods. There was always something interesting and tasty in the kitchen. She was always sewing something for one of her kids, herself, dad, or a costume for one of Karen's horses or her dogs. Her hands were never idle and her imagination was always going. There was nothing she could not make or create. As her children grew up and left home, finally she had the time and the room in the house to convert a bedroom into an art room. Now she could pursue her passion and she did just that. Sometimes she would be up at 2:00 a.m. because of a burst of inspiration and work on a painting for hours on end until she would be happy with it. Sometimes she worked on several pieces at one time and could not wait for the critique from her family. Only then, getting our nod was she happy with her work. Lorraine's paintings adorn the walls of homes and businesses all over the world including many in Iceland, Germany and the U.S.A. Our own homes hold paintings on the walls that were specially made for us by mom and they will be treasured for generations. Lorraine was very proud of all her grand-children and was very interested in their activities. Watching bowling and hockey games was a must and sewing on badges was Amma's job. She shared her talents with her grand-children letting them work with her paints and creating their own pictures and encouraging them to continue. She also loved all animals and especially her Chihuahua companions Villi and Mocha. They spent countless hours on her lap as she worked on needlework or any of her creations. Mom's latest fun summer pastime was adventuring on her golf car, travelling with her Chihuahuas. Going visiting friends and looking for new painting ideas. Her favourite place was her home with her family. We will miss you so much but you have left us so many good memories, laughs and treasures for all of us to keep and be proud of for every. Thank you mom. We love you. A private memorial service was held on Friday, November 18 at the Hnausa Cemetery.Gilbart Funeral Home, Selkirk in care of arrangements.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 19, 2011