Lorraine Annette Horban

July 18,1944 - December 21, 2025

The children and grandchildren of Lorrie Horban are saddened to announce the passing of our mother and grandmother on December 21, 2025. Just a few short months after receiving a terminal diagnosis of lung cancer.

Lorrie had many passions in her life. An early love for medicine lead Mom, as a teenager, to work at St. Joe’s Hospital. The nursing life was introduced to Mom by a nurse who Lorrie called “the most loving, caring, supportive woman, who not only taught me to dream big, but also to believe in myself”. This was her Aunt Freddie McCann. Mom often spoke of Aunty Freddie and how her and Uncle Tom showed Mom unconditional love from early childhood, her teenage years and all of her adult life.

Lorrie furthered her career by completing the R.N.A (registered nursing assistant) program. Besides Dave, Michael, Lisa and Dyan at the graduation, two other very special people also attend. The first was Aunty Freddie, who, with pride, handed Lorrie a stethoscope. This had been Aunty Freddie’s stethoscope throughout her entire nursing career, and is a moment Mom always remembered and cherished. The second person was her mother-in-law, Jean Horban. Lorrie now had another strong, supportive mother figure who was proud of her. Baba, as she was known to her grandchildren, welcomed Lorrie into the Horban family, with love and acceptance. Lorrie and Baba continued to have a wonderful close relationship until Baba passed away in 2012.

Lorrie also wanted to mention Joan Lapworth, who she met through the RNA course, and was a kindred spirit to Mom. Joan’s visits to Mom always brightened her day and included a lot of laughter.

Lorrie also had a passion for animals, especially dogs. Lorrie and her husband Dave opened and successfully operated Daylor’s Pet Supplies, Daylor’s Boarding Kennel and Daylor’s German Shepherds. In 1986, Lorrie boarded a plane to Vancouver and successfully completed the Sunnyslope Dog Grooming course. Lorrie went to the course with her friend Joan Couture, and by the time they returned they were best friends for life. Mom remembered a lot of laughter, deep conversations, and just a sense of sisterhood that never ended.

When Lorrie and Dave eventually retired, they spent years travelling around Canada in their RV with their dogs. They both loved RV life and staying in campgrounds, short term and long term, making new friends along the way. Eventually the lure of parking the RV in a campground with close friends and a neighbouring golf course, thrift store and an actual mall was win-win for everyone! Lorrie and Dave, Brian and Cathy Hall, Hal and Carol Thorkelson. Family and life long friends.

Dave passed away in 2013, and life for Lorrie changed. For the next six years Lorrie maintained her home with the help of her family. Friday evenings meant supper with Cathy Hall, Shar Forsberg, and Debbie and Donna, with shopping at Walmart afterwards. She also found another kindred spirit and a close friendship formed with Candy Henley, who was a huge support to Lorrie as she navigated life as a widow.

In 2019 Lorrie made the move to apartment life. She loved the social aspect of the senior apartments, but often longed for the quiet of having her own place. She met some amazing friends, and the block was very active. Lorrie loved going to bingo and also enjoyed yard sales with Sally and Marleen. She also met Grace and developed a very strong friendship with her and enjoyed helping Larry navigate life with his new puppy. Due to some health changes. Lorrie moved to the Gardner Block, just next- door, and once again, she met so many amazing people, loved Bingo and the raised gardens. She met her next two kindred spirits in Honor Nutley and Cat Robbins. Lorrie considered herself very lucky to have so many friends that cared about her and were there for her as her illness progressed. Cat, who loves to cook and bake, had always brought Lorrie meals and treats, but after Lorrie received her cancer diagnosis, Cat started bringing over multiple meals, snacks and treats daily. As Lorrie and Cat’s friendship grew over the years, Lorrie made the hard decision that her beloved little Chihuahua, Abby, would go and live with Cat when the time came. To make the transition easier, Lorrie would send Abby upstairs to enjoy the sunshine and Cat’s company. When Lorrie passed, Abby was already comfortable with Cat, and just as Lorrie planned, Abby had very little stress during the change, and is happy in the sunshine and truly loves Cat.

Finally, Lorrie felt very fortunate to have help in her home from personal support workers. At first Lorrie did not want help, and was happy that someone checked in on her in the morning and at bedtime and enjoyed their company. As her illness progressed, these amazing people made Lorrie’s last few months comfortable and when told that she was terminally ill, they just began doing things around Lorrie’s apartment without asking and Lorrie never stopped them. But what mattered the most to Mom is that they were there, and they were her friends. So even on the days that Lorrie wasn’t up to company or going out, she always had visits from the PSW’s. If you were on the phone with Lorrie and one of the support workers popped in, the phone call was over. Lorrie loved the workers, she felt love from them, and never felt isolated as many of the staff would just stop by to say hello and have a quick chat.

Thank you to everyone who made Lorrie’s last few months the best they could be. One day she was “just a senior with cancer”, and then the next day, she was “a senior dying from cancer in the hospital”. We had just begun work on her obituary, sharing stories and laughter, wonderful memories and sad memories as well. We took a break and planned to finish tomorrow. But there was no tomorrow. That evening Lorrie’s illness and pain was just too much. She was transferred from her apartment to the hospital and less then 12 hours later, our mother was slipping away. Unable to speak, the few moments when she was aware were very special to those who were able to say goodbye.

Thank you to all of the grandchildren and family members for visiting or calling Nana. and for those who were able to sit with her or spend the night so she wouldn’t be alone, what you have done will never be forgotten. Thank you Candy for not only staying with mom but offering more and more time.

Lorrie passed away with love in her heart, carrying nothing but good memories of all her family and friends. We all believed she would have more time, and we had just started a list of people she wanted to call and we were writing Christmas cards.

As per Lorrie’s wishes, there will not be a service or celebration of life. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your local dog rescue or cat shelter.