Obituary for Lorna Shaffer
Don’t be sad. Be happy that our mom, grandmother and great grandmother touched so many of you in so many positive ways.
Our mom passed away peacefully on March 28, 2022 with her loving family by her side. Daughter of the late Albert and Tess Kaye and sister of the late Shari Stern. Lorna was a wonderful and caring mother to her three children Robin (David), Joseph (Mary Ellen) and Albert (Karen). She especially loved her role as La La to her grandchildren who meant everything to her – Anders, Emma (Jonas), Rachael (Jeff), Mary (Austin), Rebecca, and Jonah. She treasured her great grandchildren Astrid, Aubrey and Eloise and embraced every moment with them.
Mom was born in Brooklyn New York and lived in Manhattan and Westchester County before meeting our late father Dr. Cecil Shaffer in upstate New York. Her husband to be was a dentist in Fort William and Lorna had no idea where this was until she looked it up in an atlas and saw it was on Lake Superior. After a fast romance, Mom decided to leave the Big Apple and bring her style and flare to the big little city of Thunder Bay. She never looked back. Later in life she enjoyed spending time with Shelley Swaye when she travelled to Toronto.
With an Interior Design Certificate from New York, Mom quickly designed and oversaw the building of our beautiful home on Harvard Street before eventually moving to Waverley Park Towers. Her house parties were epic and she loved entertaining, lunching at her favourite restaurants with her many close friends and chatting on the phone for hours. She had a keen sense for fashion and has the award for the most black sweaters and outfits anyone could own.
Mom sat on the Board of TV Ontario and also completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Lakehead University, a program she had started back in Columbia University. Lorna became an accomplished artist and her large colourful paintings, with a mix of impressionistic and expressionist styles, can be found hanging and adored in homes across Canada. She was a member of Artists North. Her paintings have been accepted and won awards in juried shows, have been exhibited locally, regionally and nationally, and are in private and public collections in Canada and in the United States.
Don’t be sad – We will never forget our mother and all the love and inspiration she had given her family, her friends and all those who knew her. She will always be with us wherever we go.
Our family would like to thank all the staff at the St. Joseph’s Hospital, in particular the team on 2 South for the wonderful care they provided to our Mom. There will be a small service for immediate family members only. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the St. Joseph’s Foundation of Thunder Bay.
Our mom passed away peacefully on March 28, 2022 with her loving family by her side. Daughter of the late Albert and Tess Kaye and sister of the late Shari Stern. Lorna was a wonderful and caring mother to her three children Robin (David), Joseph (Mary Ellen) and Albert (Karen). She especially loved her role as La La to her grandchildren who meant everything to her – Anders, Emma (Jonas), Rachael (Jeff), Mary (Austin), Rebecca, and Jonah. She treasured her great grandchildren Astrid, Aubrey and Eloise and embraced every moment with them.
Mom was born in Brooklyn New York and lived in Manhattan and Westchester County before meeting our late father Dr. Cecil Shaffer in upstate New York. Her husband to be was a dentist in Fort William and Lorna had no idea where this was until she looked it up in an atlas and saw it was on Lake Superior. After a fast romance, Mom decided to leave the Big Apple and bring her style and flare to the big little city of Thunder Bay. She never looked back. Later in life she enjoyed spending time with Shelley Swaye when she travelled to Toronto.
With an Interior Design Certificate from New York, Mom quickly designed and oversaw the building of our beautiful home on Harvard Street before eventually moving to Waverley Park Towers. Her house parties were epic and she loved entertaining, lunching at her favourite restaurants with her many close friends and chatting on the phone for hours. She had a keen sense for fashion and has the award for the most black sweaters and outfits anyone could own.
Mom sat on the Board of TV Ontario and also completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at Lakehead University, a program she had started back in Columbia University. Lorna became an accomplished artist and her large colourful paintings, with a mix of impressionistic and expressionist styles, can be found hanging and adored in homes across Canada. She was a member of Artists North. Her paintings have been accepted and won awards in juried shows, have been exhibited locally, regionally and nationally, and are in private and public collections in Canada and in the United States.
Don’t be sad – We will never forget our mother and all the love and inspiration she had given her family, her friends and all those who knew her. She will always be with us wherever we go.
Our family would like to thank all the staff at the St. Joseph’s Hospital, in particular the team on 2 South for the wonderful care they provided to our Mom. There will be a small service for immediate family members only. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the St. Joseph’s Foundation of Thunder Bay.