Lorraine (Gamache) Petryk

Lorraine Petryk

July 13, 1943 - July 15, 2024

An ode to our mom... a life well lived....

We are saddened to announce the passing of our loving mother Lorraine (Gamache) Petryk at the age of 81.

Lorraine was born in The Pas MB to parents Napoléon and Maire (Pelletier) Gamache. At 16, Lorraine met the love of her life, Michael Petryk. They married in 1963 and moved to Cranberry Portage where they raised their family on the beautiful shores of Lake Athapap. Lorraine was passionate about teaching and would say, “Education is something no one can ever take from you”. She attained her teaching certificate and later completed a degree in English. Countless students were touched by her love of learning as she taught elementary, junior high and senior high school English. Eventually, it was because of her love for books and reading that she completed a diploma as a library technician. She spent the last 15 years of her career as the beloved librarian at Frontier Collegiate where she always welcomed students with her radiating smile and quiet, calm demeanour. Lorraine started the first FCI Chess Club and taught folk dancing where her troup captured the Rose Bowl at the Pas Music Festival.

Our family home at the lake is where she was happiest; listening to the loons, working in her garden, paddling on the lake, skiing on the trails behind the house, and having her family home for Christmas. Her talent and love of gardening was evident to anyone who had the pleasure to be invited to a garden tour. She spent endless hours seeding, planting, and pruning. When she wasn’t in the garden, she was reading or writing about it in “Roots North”. As a talented artist, she created beautiful clay sculptures and macrame. She crocheted and sewed clothes for her family. Lorraine was a passionate supporter of local Indigenous artists and filled her home with artwork from throughout the North.

Lorraine leaves behind her children, Gregory (Michelle), Lynn (Ron), and Lori (David), grandchildren Colton, Jordyn, Kent, Rayne, Troy, Alexandria, and great-granddaughter Emra.

Lorraine was preceded in death by her loving and devoted husband Michael Petryk, her father Napoleon Gamache, mother Marie (Pelletier) Gamache, brother Raymond Gamache and sister Jennette (Gamache).

A celebration of life will be held at a future date. The family would like to thank the caregivers at St Paul’s and Flin Flon Personal Care home for their assistance over the past few years.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations be made to The Brain Foundation.

https://braincanada.akaraisin.com/.../inm.../donations/start

If you feel so moved, please share a favourite memory of our mother with us.