Lorraine and Cy - a bright light

Sharon Ansell and family enjoyed a wonderful tribute to Lorraine in September. It was a great tribute to a wonderful woman. Sharon received a cd with a memorial of all of Lorraine's films and will share it with us as soon as she can figure out how!

Is life a boon
If so it must befall
That Death, whene'er he call
Must call too soon.

They say that we are all special in our own way so why is it that only a few appear to us as special? Lorraine definately was someone who people say was special. I only recently met Lorraine through the reunion and she touched all she encountered. I think it comes to joy of life. Lorraine enjoyed life. She loved to laugh, make jokes, possessed a quick wit, was charming, laughed at herself and most impotantly of all  - loved. You could feel it because it was infectious.

When I heard of Lorraine's passing I did a little research and learned that she was modest as well. During her career as an actress she was in 20+ film and television productions, 10+ theatre plays, as well as several advertisements for both commercial and industrial environments. She was awarded the Theatre Ontario Adjudicator's Award and appeared in a TV production Binary Grove which was nominated for a Gemini Award. Lorraine also appeared in several dinner theatre productions. She wore the hat of President of Actra Ottawa and on top of all that she was employed with Transport Canada as a writer and editor.

She was the wife of Josef Pliva, whom she adored and step mom to son, Gabriel and daughter, Caroline and sister-in-law to Lida.  She will be greatly missed by her parents Patrick and Patricia Ansell and adored sister Sharon Butters. Her playmate was Cy her beloved dog. I can only imagine the pain and feeling of loss that her family and close friends are feeling. She celebrated her birthday recently with both gusto and joy and was determined to take every bit of joy from life that was offered and then was generous enough to share it with all. She loved camping, canoeing, biking and hiking.

What makes a person special? Let's take a page from Lorraine, in her memory. Let's learn to laugh at ourselves, enjoy whatever blessings we already have and be content with the small things as well as the big.

To all Lorraine's family and friends our thoughts and hearts are with you through this difficult time.

Donna and all the BBCI Family