Lorraine Marie Patterson

Lorraine Patterson, age 62, passed away in hospital surrounded by family and friends on December 23, 2025, in White Rock, BC. She had suffered a catastrophic epileptic seizure after a recent diagnosis with the disease, 6 months ago.

She is survived by the love of her life and husband of 35 years, Robert Fofonoff, her mother, RoseMarie Patterson, sister, Marla Patterson, stepbrothers Jim (Eddie Soares) Sanyshyn, Michael (Tianna Lefebvre) Sanyshyn, brother-in-law, Rod (Cheryl) Fofonoff and sister-in-law Deb (Gary) MacPherson. Her memory will be cherished by Uncle Lee (Linda) Anderson, cousins Todd (Crystal) Anderson, Sonny (Margo) MacNeal, Ian (Stacey) Anderson and lifelong friends, the Walnut Grove and Royal Avenue crews.

Lorraine’s gleeful presence and unwavering love will be missed by those who called her “Auntie” including Kayla (Jeff), Vienna, Jaxx Ferguson, Ashley MacPherson (Ryan), Joelle Newall, Ally and Mandy Bergen, Cole and Sloan MacNeal, Jake Anderson and Stephanie Gardiner.

She joins her father, Don Patterson, stepfather Evan Sanyshyn, Grandma Emma Justice, Nana Ruth Patterson, Papa George Patterson and nephew Shawn MacPherson in eternal rest.

Lorraine was born on July 7, 1963, in Murrayville, B.C. She grew up in Cloverdale and her compassion for others (human and animal) was evident right away. She and Marla loved their pets, Peeper the duck, her rabbit, and many dogs and cats. Lorraine’s love for horses began with a pony named Crystal that lived in the backyard. Her passion for horses continued and she competed regularly on the Arabian horse circuit. She received many awards on the horses she trained and showed including the AHA Legion of Supreme Honor Award and was named the Canadian National Champion in Half Arabian Ladies Side Saddle.

In her 20’s, Lorraine enrolled in Broadcast Communications at BCIT. It was there that she met Rob and they fell in love. They moved to Grand Forks to start their broadcast careers. Lorraine had an upbeat tone and natural charisma as she spoke about business, sports, and, with Rob’s help, even cooking!

The dynamic duo continued to support each other in business pursuits including realty and home renovations. Lorraine was a trusted realtor with a deep love for her community. For 40 years, she upheld her role with integrity and a strong sense of responsibility. She understood how important it was for her clients to make informed decisions and she gave each person respect and kindness. She loved to make spaces that were welcoming and warm for others. Her eye for design complimented Rob’s carpentry skills and they renovated numerous homes and built a dream home in Port Kells together. For the last 20 years, they have welcomed family and friends for awe-inspiring views and epic New Years parties on Royal Avenue in White Rock.

Lorraine loved meeting people and lived life to the fullest. She experienced European tours, Caribbean and Alaskan cruises, and adventures across Canada. She snorkeled, swam, hiked and zip-lined! Her favorite adventures were those with Rob. They loved to spend summers at Christina Lake and did a lot of boating on their boat, NanSea. Lorraine took thousands of pictures of the beauty that surrounded her. She shared these experiences with family and friends, and she inspired all of us to see the world in all its beauty. Her sparkle and delight uplifted us all.

Lorraine lived a life of joy, courage, and compassion. She had a profound impact on the lives of those who had the pleasure of knowing her. True to the kindness she showed every day, Lorraine gave others the gift of life through organ donation.

A Celebration of Life will be held on January 24th, 2026, at Hazelmere Golf Course. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the BC Epilepsy Society, SPCA, or World Vision.