Dear Lorraine

I’m sorry we really didn’t know each other better. You were clearly incredibly passionate and had an unwavering approach to life. 

Throughout our time in Canada I can remember you and your laugh from family gatherings. 

For some reason my strongest memory is of going to Jerrard street in Toronto when we visited last. 

Thank you for those times. 

With love

Jonathan and family 

Our Lorraine, we met in the seventies, a wild and crazy time. Adventure, travel and food. Enjoying sharing our personal favourite recipes or experiencing new restaurants, we had fun every meal together. Chris met her on a BC Gulf Island, I  back in Toronto.  A good friend, a sister to me, to us, always generous with her time, humour and wit.  Now thinking of you all, family and friends  wishing you hope in the midst of sorrow, comfort in the midst of pain. So glad we know Bruce now and keep in touch over the years and the miles in Canada. 
She had a fondness for Vancouver Island and here she is from a visit on the West Coast~
Love always, Victoria & Christopher 


Dear Bruce,

My fondest memory has to be when I was living with Nana. Lorraine would come over and revel at being there. She would love to wash her hair, sometimes do her nails and watch soaps with "Mummy." This was such a simple act but it gave her so much joy. She had a great laugh which sounded more like  giggles and would laugh easily and constantly. Lorraine was such a professional. She took massive amount of pride in her work and helped so many of us not only get work catering but teach us how to be a phenomenal waiter.  But most of all what I remember about Lor is her love for both Nana and Bruce which was unconditional and beautiful.  I do believe that the love you both had for one another was a gift for which you were so lucky.  

Lots of love,
Sam XX

Dear Sweet Sister,
I never would have believed I would be writing an obituary to you. It is unbelievable that you are no longer & my great regret is that we didn't spend more time together. Our difference in age of 9 years meant that we shared very few growing up childhood years together & my foremost memories of you are from when we were both grown adults. Again the distance apart, living in different countries as we  did didn't make it easy to enjoy many occasions together . However I specially remember the lovely times we had when you & Bruce visited us in Colombia & England.  Colombia was a great time & your enjoyment of the flora & fauna of the plantation was great to see. You always reminded me of Mummy in your appreciation of the simplest of things & especially of nature. I was  envious of your knowledge of plants  & Flowers & your green thumb. 
I am looking at our family picture as I write this & your sweet happy smile says it all about your disposition.
You will always be in my thoughts & prayers until we meet again. Rest in Peace.
Your loving sister,
Wandini

My sweet sister Lorraine how I will miss you.  I can hardly believe I will never see you again.  Thank you for being my compassionate, loving  sister showing me how to reach the world with truly an open heart.

I remember us back in Madras at the Gymkana club rumbling around the playgrounds, swimming and coaxing mom and dad to keep us there forever.  Or, the days we would all go as family to Mahabalipuram, the beach of our dreams,  in the station wagon fighting for the back seat and dreaming in wondrous anticipation of what adventures we would  find and fall into.  And then coming home to devour mommy’s cooking as if we were worshipping a goddess.  You had the best laugh of us all sweet sister that captured those easy summer days!  

I crumble at the emptiness now.

Rest in peace sweet Lor and thank you for sharing this world together.

Your loving brother 

Dom

 I 've known Lorraine for 34 years. We met at a Restaurant in Toronto where we both worked. I had just been hired and a little nervous. Lorraine took me under her wing!  We'd been friends ever since. I have so many good and fun memories with Lorraine, and Bruce, as he has been a loving constant in her life. Lorraine was a beautiful spirit and I can imagine, and know, how she will be missed.
ox Margo  

Lorraine was born in India in the beautiful Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu, but she always identified herself as Goan. She could give a rousing, and hilarious, version of the Indian national anthem “Janna ganna manna- adhinayaka jaya he ….”, but was really a bracing cocktail of her Indian parentage, her adopted Canadian nationality, and a dash of British, as evidenced by her disarming home counties accent absorbed by hanging out with far too many Brits, for whom she had a fatal weakness, thank goodness.
She had a whole tribe of Siblings: Wundini, Nina, Anita, Ros, Pia and Dom, all of whom have strong personalities: loving, affectionate, loyal, individualistic and sometimes contentious, often all at the same time. It must have been a tumultuous childhood! Lorraine held her mother, Edna, in the very highest regard that seemed to exceed the customary bonds of the mother daughter relationship. A quarter century after her death Lorraine was still mourning her loss.
I met Lor – always “Lor” - on the morning of July 13 1984 when we were both working at the same restaurant. We made a date for the same evening. We were never separated for more than a few nights from that day on. That’s thirty-five years in all, for which I’m eternally grateful. I suppose that all relationships have their ups and downs, storms and tranquilities, but, exceptionally I think, ours was a completely and continuously happy one. It helped that Lor had simple tastes and demanded little of life except to get her own way and be loved unconditionally – both of which I was only too happy to comply with.
She enjoyed her life: she freely indulged in all the good things in life, and was at her happiest when she was sharing these things, often with me, for which I will always be grateful. I’m going to miss her dreadfully.
A heartfelt thank you to all her friends and colleagues, but especially all her family members, who have been so wonderfully supportive over the last few days.
Bruce


Dear Bruce,

We can't imagine you without beautiful Lorraine at your side. She was our dear friend for many years - and will always be remembered as a pal with a generous heart and the warmest smile. I will always remember sharing France with you and Lorraine, travelling the markets, enjoying snacks on a brasserie terrace, and drinking in the good life together. Here in Toronto, she never let me leave your house without sending me home with a care package of her delicious treats. This world will miss her big heart - but she will live on through you and us, through our memories, our stories, our thoughts. Sincerest condolences from David and I, dear friend. We three shall meet soon and raise a glass to Lorraine's strong, warm spirit. xox

Dear Bruce,
Words can't express how saddened I am to hear of your loss. Lorraine and I worked together for 3 years before she retired. She was a great person and we worked well together. I had mixed feelings when she decided to retire because I was losing a colleague and friend but she was so excited to retire and do new things and spend time with you that I was very happy for her. I am glad she got those 3 year. Lorraine will always be in our thoughts. May her soul rest in peace.
Sincerely, Jual

OBITUARY

Lorraine Bruce-Thompson

7 January, 1954 – 5 April, 2019

Giffen-Mack and Trull Funeral Home

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