LORRAINE OLIVE BARNSON (POTTRUFF)

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

LORRAINE OLIVE BARNSON (nee POTTRUFF) March 18, 1927 - September 4, 2012 It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Lorraine Olive Barnson, cherished wife of Gordon, dedicated mother of Dianne and Paul and mother-in-law of Pat, loving grandmother of Carl and Eric, caring sister to Lorne and Dale and aunt to nephews and nieces, and a dear friend to so many. Lorraine was born in Morden, Manitoba to Olive and Earle Pottruff. She attended school in Winnipeg and then worked at J.H. McLean Wholesale. During a visit to Selkirk, Manitoba, she met her future husband, Gordon and, after a wonderful courtship, they married in April, 1948. With their two young children they moved into their first home, a small house they built in West Kildonan. A few years later they bought a house in St. Vital, which remains the family home. In the 1960s, she returned to work, at the Eaton's Department Store in downtown Winnipeg. Lorraine was committed to the service of others and her community. She was a life-long member of the Olive Branch of the Rebecca Lodge, serving in the leadership role of Noble-Grand in 1972, and for years she taught Sunday School at the St. Vital United Church. Lorraine was remarkably creative. She was an accomplished seamstress, knitter, and quilter, although her artistry came to full-expression in her paintings. She worked in oils and water colours and exhibited her still life and landscape paintings in Winnipeg and Texas. One of the delights in Lorraine's life were the summers at the family's retreat in North Western Ontario. Boating and fishing, sautéed pickerel and fresh-picked blueberries, cards and Clearwater Bay Coffee marked wonderful hours spent with family and friends. Lorraine loved to travel and she and Gordon explored much of Canada, the United States, and Europe on trips of business and pleasure. In their snow bird years, they wintered in Texas, first in Corpus Christie and then in Weslaco. Tragically, at the age of 81, Lorraine was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Gordon cared for her at home until, at age 85, she entered the Golden Links Lodge where, under the exemplary care of the health professionals and with her loving family by her side, she spent her final months. A Service of Remembrance will be held to honour the life of Lorraine on Friday, September 14 at the United Church in Meadowood, 1111 Dakota St., at 2:30 p.m. A reception will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba or the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation. The Coutu Family in care of arrangements: E.J. COUTU CO. FUNERAL DIRECTORS 680 Archibald Street 204-253-5086 ejcoutu.com

Make a donation to

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 12, 2012