Lorna DRAKE

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DRAKE: With profound sadness the family of Lorna Elaine Drake (nee Richards), age 83, announce her passing on Sunday, October 19, 2014. She passed away peacefully at the Assiniboine Centre with her family by her side. Lorna was born April 8, 1931 in Vanguard, Saskatchewan to Clint and Ellen Richards. When Lorna was only four her mother passed away and Norma Anderson came to look after the family and married Lorna’s father. She graduated from nursing school at Providence Hospital in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in 1952. Lorna was extremely proud to be a nurse! In Moose Jaw Lorna met her future husband Bernard William Drake whom she married October 15, 1953. Due to Bernie being in the military they lived in various locations including Barrie, Ontario, Shilo and Germany. In 1962 Lorna took a nursing job in Shilo, she worked here for a few years as well as casual in Brandon. She eventually took a job at Brandon General Hospital and worked on the wards for a few years before taking the job as director of the Central Supply Department. Lorna truly loved this job! In 1968 the family moved to Brandon. In 1972 they purchased an acreage on the Treesbank road. The family had many great neighbours here who were always willing to lend a helping hand. Bernie was killed in a car accident in 1974 and Lorna was left to raise her five daughters. Lorna was an excellent and dedicated mother and worked hard to raise her family. In 1980 she made the decision to move into Brandon. Lorna retired from the CSR Department in 1991. To this day her staff raves about what a great boss she was! During her working years and in retirement Lorna was always involved in the community. Over the years she belonged to Tops, Toastmasters, Curves, volunteered doing archives at the hospital, belonged to a group of women who played the stock market, did fundraising for different organizations, and was actively involved in her church through such activities as bible study, the 55+ group, the refugee committee, organizing Christmas hampers and more. Lorna’s bible study raised enough money to buy two wells for a community in a third world country, an accomplishment she was very proud of. She was very proud that she played a substantial role in bringing a refugee to Brandon and they kept in contact for many years after. Lorna’s friends were always extremely important to her - she especially enjoyed her Thursday morning coffee group, bridge groups and retirement luncheons. Lorna loved to travel and ventured to faraway places with her friends Gwen Vigneron and Betty Popovits. She travelled coast to coast in Canada, including a special trip to her father’s native PEI where she met a number of relatives and family acquaintances. Lorna’s children and grandchildren were central to her life and she was famous for bragging about them. Her family could always count on her for anything, she was always full of helpful advice, wanted or not! Her caring nature, loving smile, twinkling blue eyes, as well as her famous Sunday suppers will be missed by the entire family! Lorna was predeceased by husband Bernie, father Clint, mother Ellen, stepmother Norma, father-in-law William, mother-in-law Chelta, stepmother-in-law Norma, brother Dale, brothers- and sisters-in-law Fred, Laverne, Shirley, Eunice, Kay, Donald and Dale. Lorna is survived by daughters Chelta (Andy), Linda(Alex), Peggy, Veronica (Brian), Nancy (Neil); grandchildren Kerri (Glen), Angela (Devon), Kristine, Kim (Keith), Chad (Kristyn), Meagan, Cassandra, Danielle and Logan; great grandchildren Alex, Arianna, Holly, Analynne, Rylan and Norah. Lorna is also survived by brothers and sisters Williard (Helen), Eleanor (Ray), Howard, Joyce, and Val (Didier) and Doug (Darlene); brothers and sisters in law, Lorraine (Al), Bert (Leta), Jeanette, Helen (Wayne), Larry, Rod (Marge), and numerous nieces and nephews. Lorna remained very close to her ex-son in law Larry Howe, as well as good friends the McNish family. The Ceremony to Celebrate Lorna's Life was held at Central United Church on Saturday, October 25, 2014 with Rev. Wayne Sanderson officiating. Donations in memory of Lorna may be made to the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation, 150 McTavish Avenue East, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 2B3 or the Canadian Cancer Society, 415 1st Street, Brandon, Manitoba, R7A 2W8. Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.memorieschapel.com. Arrangements with Memories Chapel & Pre-Planning Centre, 204-727-0330.

As published in Brandon Sun on Nov 01, 2014