In Loving Memory of
Lorna Doreen Cormack
1920 - 2012
Lorna Cormack passed away peacefully at Pinecrest Home on Monday, December 17, 2012, just a month shy of her 93rd birthday.
The only child of the late George and Dorothy James, Lorna was born January 19, 1920 in Croydon, Surrey, England. She immigrated to Canada with her parents in 1924 and grew up in Kingston, Ontario.
In 1940, Lorna married her high school sweetheart, William Sherburn Taylor Jr. Their early marriage, during the War Years, was romantic and fun but later Bill had trouble committing to family life.
In 1955, he abandoned her to raise their three children, Lynne (Hank Hall, Comox, BC), Debbie (Rod Lamb, Kenora, ON), and Jim (Joyce, Metcalfe, ON) with no emotional or financial support.
This led her to embark on a career as a chemist in the textile industry, testing the effects of dyes and chemicals on synthetic fabrics for CIL Industries and from there, in the early 60s, to a position with the Department of National Defence in Ottawa where she did similar work on fabrics used for military uniforms, etc.
During her time in Ottawa she chaired the Women’s Committee for the Ottawa Symphony for several years.
In the late 1960s, Lorna met and married the love of her life, Alexander (Alistair) Cormack and welcomed his sons, Stanley (Sue, Sandy, Calgary, AB) and Ronald (Andree, Ottawa, ON) into the family.
Sadly, AI predeceased her in 1974, just 5 years after their marriage, as did his older son Stanley, in 2008.
There are thirteen grandchildren in the next generation of their blended family with nearly that many great grandchildren so far. Today family members live across the country from British Columbia to Nova Scotia.
In 1989 Lorna moved to Comox, BC, where she had her dream home built and surrounded it with beautiful gardens. When she was no longer able to live alone she moved back to the Ottawa area for a year before coming to Kenora to live at Pinecrest Home for the Aged in 2006.
Lorna had an artistic nature and tried many art forms, including creative writing, oil painting, candle making, and millinery, eventually discovering that what she enjoyed most was crewel embroidery. The thought of her bread still brings the memory of a mouth watering aroma and delectable taste. She was an expert bridge player and belonged to a number of bridge clubs over the years.
Lorna had a great love of nature, particularly bird watching and geology. She participated in several annual bird counts and enjoyed nature walks where birds would come and eat from her hand. In her many drives around the Kenora area with her daughter Debbie, she marveled at the amazing and beautiful rock formations and all they could tell us about the history of our world. She was a knowledgeable and artistic gardener with a particular love of and talent for rock gardens which featured special rocks collected in her travels.
Lorna’s son-in-law, Rev. Rod Lamb conducted her funeral service that was held at Pinecrest Home for the Aged on Friday, December 21, 2012. Interment will take place in Ottawa in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to your church or your favourite charity.
BROWN FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTRE ENTRUSTED WITH ARRANGEMENTS.