Wednesday, February 17, 2021 surrounded by her daughters and husband. She was brave and
vivacious until the very end, after a truly courageous battle with Cholangiocarcinoma.
Lorrie was born in York, England on October 12, 1944 and emigrated to Canada in 1946. She
grew up in Calgary, Alberta and much to her chagrin, couldn’t escape the cold winters of
Canada until later in life. While in Alberta, she married and had two daughters to whom she
devoted herself while creating a life full of good friends and family. She bravely went back to
college at the ripe age of 42 to become a nurse, teaching all of those around her that it is never
too late to pursue a challenge and follow a passion. Upon graduating, she emigrated again,
this time to the warmth of south Texas where she worked as an ER and ICU nurse for 20 years.
She saved countless lives with not only her skills but her warmth, compassion and positivity
and met many wonderful friends whom she loved and cherished. When she least expected it,
she met the love of her life, Jim Schwem. They married in 2005 and she gained three “bonus”
daughters. Together, Lorrie and Jim doted on their families, traveled the world and enjoyed
their daily poolside glass of wine or margarita.
Lorrie was a tornado in the kitchen and was proclaimed the “best baker in the world” by her
grandchildren. You could always tell where she had been by the trail of small fingerprints left in
her wake. Her grandchildren will miss her cookies, her hugs and her unconditional love. Just
like she mothered her daughters, she gave her grandchildren all of her love and adoration. She
made each of them feel like they were the most precious person in her world. She was their
greatest champion.
Lorrie loved her wine, and slowly turned many of us into wine drinkers, much to her delight.
You needed to watch your wine glass around her, otherwise it would be gone before you knew
it. Nothing gave her greater pleasure than enjoying a glass with those she loved.
Lorrie will be best remembered for her kindness, compassion, her tolerance and her ability to
forgive, and to press through adversity with positivity and grace and for teaching us all how to
be brave and loving. She could be a little bossy, but she was usually right.
Lorrie is survived by her husband Jim, daughters Stacey (Scott), Jackie (Matt), Courtney
(Jason), Amye and Jaime (Geoffrey) and grandchildren Hayden, Hannah, Samuel, Josie, Stella,
Scarlett, Hudson and Cruise.
Please raise a glass and toast to the fiercely loyal, remarkable woman Lorrie was and
remember her adage that “life is too short to drink cheap wine.”
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