Nellie Caroline Loughren

LOUGHREN, Nellie (nee Sochaski), passed away on January 14th, 2013 in Vancouver at the age of 86. Predeceased by her husband, Francis “Buddy” Loughren in 1982, Nellie will be missed and lovingly remembered by her children Patrick Loughren (Marlis) and Carole von Tiesenhausen (Hans), grandchildren, Rachael, Nicholas and Daniel. She is survived by her Aunt Sally, cousins, nieces, in-laws and many dear friends who will miss her regular phone calls and cards.

Born in Ford City, Ontario, Nellie lived with her parents and her brother Ben in Windsor, ON and Detroit, MI before they moved to be near extended family in Winnipeg, MB around 1935. Her marriage in 1959 took her to the province of Quebec to Seven Islands, Baie Comeau and Hemmingford and then to Ontario where she lived for 33 years in Hanmer before finally moving to Vancouver in 2008.

As a young woman in Winnipeg, Nellie joined the Royal Canadian Air Force Reserves where she worked in the Intelligence Department. When asked for more details about her military service she replied "I can't tell you that - it's top secret!" Nellie maintained her membership in the Royal Canadian Legion and was also a member of the Sudbury Ukrainian Senior's Centre.

Prior to her marriage, Nellie worked in the Shoe Repair Department at Eaton’s in Winnipeg for 13 years where she made some great friends and was reportedly the life of the party! She worked part time at the Post Office in Hemmingford and as an elections officer in Hanmer.

Nellie had a beautiful singing voice and sang in choirs throughout her life first in Winnipeg with the St. Nicholas Ukrainian Church Choir and the Melody Songsters, and then with church choirs at St. Romain Parish in Hemmingford, Quebec and St. Kevin's Parish in Hanmer, Ontario. She loved music, especially classical, and enjoyed her CBC radio music station.

Nellie enjoyed travelling and when the opportunity presented itself, she readily became a snowbird, first travelling with her friend Pauline to Cuba and then with her cousin Marie to Hawaii. She would then spend a month in Hawaii every year for more than 20 years where she became the resident photographer for her group of friends. The Waikiki Banyan became her home away from home.

Nellie loved to play bingo and was easily convinced to try her hand at the slots when they came along - always just for fun. Rarely without a treat in her pocket, she stopped to say hello to every dog she met. She found beauty in music and flowers, friends and family. Her humour was subtle and dry and her occasional bursts of laughter were a rare treat.

Nellie bravely faced many challenges in her life from cancer in 1969 to open heart surgery in 2003 to the loss of her eyesight due to macular degeneration in 2008 and finally vascular disease resulting in her recent hospitalization. At the age of 82, she left all that was familiar behind and started from scratch at the O’Keefe Retirement Community in Vancouver, launching herself into activities like game days and the gardening club, origami and lectures. What a trooper!

Thank you to all of her friends and family who prayed for her and visited her whether in person or by phone or by letter. Your love gave her comfort; your presence in her life gave her joy along the way. Please share your memories of her with us on this site if you feel comfortable doing so.

Donations may, of course, be made to a charity of your choice in her memory, however I think Mom would have liked for you to have flowers to remember her by. She particularly liked pink carnations.

A Memorial Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26 2013 at St. Kevin's church, 4610 St-Thérèse Street, Val Thérèse, Ontario.