Mrs. Lorraine Mary Margaret West

Lorraine is survived by her loving husband George; children Martine (Gerry), George, and Joseph (Sonja); and beloved grandsons Paul and Jason. Also left to cherish her memory are brothers Raymond (Audrey) and Richard (Yvette); and her many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Mum was predeceased by her parents Joseph and Corana Boux; and sister Juliette Stannard of San Jose California.

Mum was born in St Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg and was part of a very large extended family of numerous Belgian and French Canadian cousins, beautiful aunts and accomplished uncles. Mum showed an early aptitude for singing and was encouraged by her mother who enjoyed hearing her sing around the house but felt a larger audience would equally enjoy her gift. A lifelong fan of Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddy movies…mum set her template to their example of what must have seemed like impossible glamour, melancholy love songs and deep appreciation of beautiful singing.

In her late teens, her mother encouraged her to try her luck with a weekly radio broadcast talent contest beamed out of the Beacon Theatre on Main Street. According to family legend, she won the contest six weeks in a row. Through these appearances, she came to be hired as the alto vocalist with the Ed Emel orchestra who gigged most weekends at the Fort Garry Hotel in the ballroom. Mum really wasn’t a natural alto but all the orchestra arrangements required an alto so an alto she became in short order. With no specialized vocal training, her talent, intuition (and range) ensured her popularity and job opportunities.

Mum soon was approached by the CBC and kicked off her long association there with a 15 minute radio spot called “Let’s Meet Lorraine”. In addition to radio work and live appearances, Mum was soon appearing on television, both live and pre-recorded mainly in Winnipeg, but occasionally in Toronto and other major Canadian cities. She was fortunate to have had the legendary guitarist Lenny Breau participate in some of her appearances with the CBC and many fabulous musicians and vocalists throughout her career including childhood friend, Len Cariou on a particularly memorable one time CTV variety program in the early 70s called Love in a Cold Climate.

Another extraordinary opportunity came one week before Christmas 1968 when she agreed to sub for a last minute no show singer contracted to accompany an entertainment troupe flying up to Alert on Ellesmere Island (Nunavut) the northern most inhabited community in the world to provide some cheer to both Canadian and American troops stationed there. We thought it was rather spectacular that she was patched through to our phone from the jet flying her there. They got her home in time for Christmas with time to spare and a suitcase of awesome stories.

Mum performed for Prime Ministers and premiers, for military, for northern Manitoban communities, for regulars at the Constellation Room and many many dinner theatre shows at the Hollow Mug at the (then called) International Inn. She loved performing and all that goes with it. In her later years, she appeared in a duo called “Sugar and Spice” with friend Marie Enns entertaining folk in nursing homes across the city. We always assumed that mum was the “Spice” half of the duo.

Mum and dad enjoyed 61 years of married life together. An often busy life juggling rehearsals, shows, travels to appearances and family vacations while raising three children who all had extracurricular activities and hobbies. Mum was proud to be a hockey mum for her sons and supported and cheered all her kids in their interests and talents. Mum was also an accomplished athlete in her own right, playing hockey in her youth and teaching figure skating locally for a time in the 70’s.

Mum cherished and enjoyed her wide circle of friends, whether they were childhood chums or members of “The Dirty Dozen” or friends and colleagues she knew throughout her performing years. If you trespassed against anyone she loved, you trespassed against her as far as she was concerned and she was not afraid to state her opinion no matter the station of the unfortunate sinning individual. She faced a number of medical challenges throughout her life, facing every one with calm and grace and courage. Mum had a wonderful sense of humour; something she shared with Dad…at times we’d swear George Burns and Gracie Allen had materialized right in front of us.

Her immediate and extended family were crucial and special to her. She had the enormous pleasure to perform a lovely song for her grandparents on the occasion of their 70th wedding anniversary in front of 500 close family members; the first such married couple in the south eastern region of Manitoba to celebrate this rare event. The many Christmases she hosted for family and many reunions held during times of sorrow and good cheer were very important to her.

A lifetime with a sprinkling of adversity, a lot of humour and song, a bit of red wine and loaded potato skins, a lot of fabulous gowns and costumes (the shoes!!) good friends and lots of love and generosity and applause. To quote the immortal George Gershwin….who could ask for anything more?

Mum ...you were so lovely and you shone so brightly, the stars in heaven will surely be jealous.

Funeral service will be held on Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 10:00 am at Thomson “In the Park” Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Boulevard.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to the staff at the Prime Program at Deer Lodge Hospital and the staff at Oakview Place for their loving respectful and dignified care of Lorraine.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice.