LOHA LAWRENCE

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LOHA LAWRENCE

July 27, 1925 - January 14, 2023

Loha “Lola” Gertrude Louise Lawrence (nee Anderson) passed away on Saturday, January 14, 2023 at Rideau Park Personal Care Home at the age of 97 years.
Loha was born July 27, 1925 along with twin sister Margaret to parents Gudrun and William Anderson in the district of Leifur, Manitoba; the granddaughter of Fredjborn “Siggi” and Gertrude Sigurdson who emigrated from Iceland.
Loha grew up on a farm alongside Lake Manitoba and attended school in the district of Leifur. Her father passed away when she was 16 years old and the farm was maintained and run by her, her twin sister, younger brother and mother. She learned very young a strong work ethic and strength to persevere.
At the age of 18, she moved to Winnipeg along with her twin sister. They found work as furriers, sewing fur coats and jackets. At the age of 21, she met Henry Lawrence who loved farming as much as she did. They soon married and bought land in the Leifur area. They farmed for a period of time before moving to Brandon to enable Henry to continue his education in power engineering.
As a stay-at-home mom, she was always there for her three children. Cooking was a joy for her, and she had an amazing library of cookbooks. If you wanted a recipe, it was there, and she knew how to make it. Family and friends meant everything to her and the door of her home was always open to family and friends. You never left her home hungry; a meal was always available and you never left without a coffee/tea and a desert.
She loved designing and making clothes. This skill was a lifelong passion and designing clothes, quilts, knitting sweaters, scarves, mitts and slippers, crocheting and designing table clothes and table runners was ongoing all her life. If anything did not fit any of her children, she knew how to fix it and make it right. She always owned a sewing machine, knitting material, crocheting needles and always had lots of material in her sewing room. Just take it to Mom and it was fixed!
Left to mourn her passing are her daughter Lorna Zimmerman-Gobeil (Andre Gobeil) and son Randy (Margaret-Ann) Lawrence; grandchildren Brad Zimmerman, Rhonda (Guy) Williams, Raquel (Mark) Gillespie, Christine (Pat) Hanna, Corinne (Dave) Pierce, Shawn Lawrence, Kyle Lawrence and Madison Lawrence; great-grandchildren Matt (Jessie) Williams, Brianna Williams, Tori Williams, Dustin Zimmerman, Derrick Zimmerman, Kieran Hannah, Erik Hanna, Samantha Pierce and Megan Pierce; and great-great-grandchildren Nevada and Rayah.
Loha was predeceased by her husband Henry Lawrence in 2014, son Earl Lawrence in 2018, parents Gudrun and William Anderson, brothers and sisters-in-law Swan and Ethel Anderson, Andy and Rae Anderson, Henry and Gladys Anderson, George and Evelyn Anderson, Bill and Norma Anderson and sisters and brothers-in-law Helga and Alfred Asham and Margaret and Ray Pinchino.
The funeral service was held at Memories Chapel on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 with Pastor Vince Anderson officiating. Honourary Pallbearers were Randy Lawrence, Dustin Zimmerman, Derrick Zimmerman, Jim Anderson and Wayne Anderson. Pallbearers were Brad Zimmerman, Guy Williams, Matthew Williams, Kyle Lawrence, Mark Gillespie and Kieran Hannah. Interment followed at the Brandon Cemetery.
Donations in memory of Loha may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, 185 Sherbrook Steet, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2B7 or Diabetes Canada, #401, 1 Wesley Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3C 4C6.

Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.memorieschapel.com.

As published in Brandon Sun on Feb 18, 2023