Community loses dedicated volunteer

The area lost one of its most staunch supporters on August 9 when Lorraine Gibson passed away suddenly after a tragic accident in uptown Leamington.

Lorraine’s long-standing dedication to community service was known to many and she touched the lives of strangers as well as friends.

Born and raised in Montreal, Lorraine settled in the Muskokas and raised her family, before a visit to her youngest sister — Carol Bell — prompted her to make a move to Leamington.

Carol and her late husband Bill had moved here from the GTA in 1997.

“Both of my sisters came for a visit and eventually moved here,” Carol told the Sun last week. “Lorraine immersed herself in the community.”

Carol says that she was volunteering at the Community Hope Centre when news came of Lorraine’s accident and she immediately rushed to Windsor to be with her sister.

Lorraine’s children arrived later that evening and Lorraine passed away early the next morning, surrounded by her family.

Lorraine’s passing has not only left a hole in her family, it has also left a hole in the volunteer community.

She always had a destination during her daily walks and Carol says she walked everywhere she went.

“I know exactly where she was going when the accident occurred,” she said. “I’m going to miss her. We did quite a lot together.”

Lorraine’s involvement in the Migrant Worker Community Program is well documented as she took a keen interest in helping those who could not help themselves.

She was an avid reader and passed that passion on to her grandchildren. She regularly donated books to Thrift on Mill.

While raising her three children, Lorraine went back to school and earned her law degree, and Carol says that allowed them to work together a bit when Carol was a private investigator.

She also volunteered for SECC and was instrumental in the local Toastmasters organization.

Leamington Mayor Hilda MacDonald considered Lorraine a friend and she was shocked when she heard about her accident. 

“I saw Lorraine’s hard work first-hand,” she said. “She was really a leader with the Migrant Worker Program and started a quiet movement towards reaching out to the migrant worker community. She will be dearly missed.”

In 2019, Lorraine was awarded the SECC’s “Volunteer Change Maker Award” for volunteer work in the community and unwavering commitment to migrant workers living in Leamington and Kingsville. She had an extensive history serving the Canadian Red Cross and learned — and taught — Tai Chi later in life.

Carol says that Lorraine’s selfless volunteerism and spirit was evident in everything she did.

“She was always fighting for the underdog,” she says. “She always wanted to help people.”

The Migrant Worker Community Program office summed it up best when speaking of Lorraine on social media after her passing.

“With heavy hearts, we remember Lorraine Gibson, a cherished member of our Migrant Worker Community Program. Her kindness touched many lives, and she will be deeply missed. Our thoughts are with her family and friends,” said the post.

Lorraine was especially proud of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, (with one more on the way) and they will all miss her dearly.

Countless other people — some friends, some co-volunteers — posted messages of condolence on Lorraine’s obituary over the past couple of weeks. 

Each one was a testament to the lady they knew and the lady they admired for her fierce community spirit. 

The family invites people to share  memories on Lorraine’s tribute wall at reidfuneralhome.ca