Lana Lou Grawbarger

Because of the many lives Lana touched, there will be a Commemorative Service for the community on Saturday, June 21, 2025 at 1:00 pm at St. John's Anglican Church, followed by interment of ashes in the Anglican Cemetery in Garden River. Reception to follow at Garden River Community Centre until 5:00 pm. In lieu of flowers a donation to St. John's Anglican Church (Garden River) or ARCH would be appreciated by the family. Online condolences, tributes and photos can be made and found at www.arthurfuneralhome.com.

Reverend Lana Cecelia Grawbarger, on Thursday, January 16, 2025 in her 70th year. After a long and difficult illness, Lana passed peacefully with her loving family by her side.

Beloved daughter of the late George and Betty-Lou Grawbarger. Cherished sister of Trudy, Bill (Adyne), Loretta (late Marvin), late George (Faye), John (Jennifer), Betty-Anne (Vernon), Theodore (Carla), and late Kevin. The most loving, kind, and doting Auntie-Mama to all her kids (nieces and nephews) who all adored her: Bonnie, Stacey, Bill, Charlie, Lynne, Warren, Chris, Jed, Ben, David, Melissa, Jo-Ann, Zak, Lana, Boyd, Sandie, Kyle and Tedi-lynn, along with 42 great grandkids and 6 great-great grandkids. She will be greatly missed by her aunts, uncles, and cousins from both the Pine and Grawbarger families. A beloved life long friend to Patricia and Kerri.

Lana lived a life of dedication to her family, community, and church. Her beautiful spirit was like a ray of sunshine, her insightful and articulate nature brought comfort and hope to many who sought her counsel. She was a generous, loving and kind person whose genuineness made all who interacted with her feel special and understood. Lana was a proud member of Garden River First Nation and a fifth generation descendant of Cheif Shingwaukonce of the Ojibway Nation. Lana carried many stories and teachings passed down to her from her Grandfather Dan Pine Sr., aunties, uncles and her mother; and she was always willing to share these stories and knowledge. Lana had a passion to bring indigenous culture to childcare, she worked with many children and families throughout her career in Moose Factory, Batchewana First Nation and Garden River First Nation where she established the first Daycare Centre. Throughout her life Lana was a very active part of St. Johns Anglican Church in Garden River, she had strong faith that she shared through being a lay pastor, she was there for her community in births, celebrations, and in death giving solace to the bereaved. In January 2019, she made her life's calling official when she was ordained as an Anglican Deacon. Her work for the church spans decades involvement in the indigenous focused ministry. Lana was a very talented and naturally gifted singer, she became part of the Pine Family Singers along with her aunts and mother, and would travel near and far to sing Ojibway Hymns and other music that brought joy and comfort to many people. She was an amazing cook whose soup and bannock were highly prized by her family. Lana was one of a kind, a blessing, and will be deeply missed. Baamaapii.

Family, friends and community are welcome to Arthur Funeral Home - Barton & Kiteley Chapel (492 Wellington St. E., 705-759-2522) on Monday, January 20, 2025 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm for a time of visitation, followed by a funeral service at 1:15 pm, cremation to follow. A webcast of the service will be available and can be viewed up to 90 days, please use the link https://fweb.tv/168199 or go to www.funeraweb.tv and select Lana's name.

"Just as I am, Thou wilt receive

Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve

Because Thy promise I believe

Oh, Lamb of God, I come, I come."

I started this story for my kids here and to come. It’s cheaper and less time shopping, but gold on paper I hope. I made the attempt with my first nieces and nephews but when it gets into the double digits, I was asking for trouble. So now I do random acts of gift giving throughout the year.

My Christmas Story 2024 ~ My Truth

It’s four in the morning, been awake since 3. Doing a lot of thinking and had to put it down for you all. I am a “hitchhiker” just like mom. She went in so many directions, but all good. Betty Lou had a phenomenal memory, was a good listener, an expressive articulate person who knew her truth. In short in our Anishinaabe culture – a “memory keeper”, a “storyteller”. We all encouraged her to write things down. She wrote as she spoke. Magnificent, prolific. A gift to us. Some of her shine has rubbed off on all of us.

I and my brothers and sisters love to visit, sharing our memories over and over. The good, the bad, the ugly. Everything. We always end talking about food (we all agree about that) recipes old and new. Our own particular way of ‘tweaking’ things; tricks for trials and course taste and texture. “When we meet, we eat.” Socializing and putting out something to share together is very much a part of our native culture, dare I label it, a ritual?

Whichever one of my kids can ‘type’ and word process for me, is going to have quite the ride. Bless you. “Oh the shame of having a tech challenged aunt (Apple for Dummies).” I am not taking the full blame for my rambling. The Prednisone I take for the itch of my skin condition revs me right up in my talking and thoughts. Even while writing this down, I am making note of other memories and ideas I will redirect to the parking lot for now. Not easy!

I feel the main truth about this letter to my family is to “know” each other, seek each other out as much as possible individually and collectively, share your “truths”. We were blessed with incredible parents, not perfect but through the eyes of love, incredible! The never ending love. Through my mother’s storytelling and a gentle, intelligent father, we children came to ‘know’ ourself and each other through keeping close, visiting a lot, sharing memories, over and over. Never forget who you are, my grampa ‘Pa’ would say. A life lesson passed down through generations and more to come.

Take up the torch, connect often. It’s a challenge in this busy overloaded world, and getting harder as we “progress”. We owe this to ourself and each other. It builds us up, it forms who we are, it instills a tolerant, empathetic… It aspires to be more like God, Jemnidoo. Who was the only perfect person who ‘knew’ us fully (Psalm 39) while we were yet being formed in the womb and even before. He is always there. Through the good and bad. He knows everything about us, even the number of our days, here on earth. He allows the miracles and the disasters within his wisdom and infinite ‘knowing’. He is that great guy sitting on our shoulder, we all know who sits on the other. He is always there waiting. The ultimate listener and visitor, but he does require contact and invitation, not pushy at all. Always ready for a visit and conversation. Contact is essential to know ourself and each other. Visit as much as you can, be together, know your own truth and where you come from.

In the spirit of visiting, Merry Christmas and God Bless you,

Love Lana