Obituary for Lorna Joan Reese
Lorna Joan Reese passed away peacefully on Thursday morning at 12:19 am in the Olds Hospital. Lorna was born March 25th, 1948, in Didsbury, Alberta to Delbert and Ella Levagood. She was the youngest of the 4 children, Ron, Jean, Dick and Lorna, and they grew up west of Didsbury on the Levagood farm.
She was baptized in Didsbury on May 16th, 1948, confirmed in Didsbury in May of 1962. Lorna graduated from Didsbury High School in June of 1966.
Lorna married the love her life Harry Reese on February 10th, 1968, at the Lutheran Church in Didsbury, Alberta. Harry will still tell you today that it was one of the most beautiful February days ever in Alberta with water running down the street. They would have celebrated their 55th anniversary this February. Harry and Lorna farmed west of Didsbury, and Lorna worked in town full-time as a para legal secretary.
In August of 1971 they started their family with twin boys Colin and Dale. With great sadness three days later Colin passed away, but we know in our hearts he was in heaven to greet her! Dale lives on the main farmyard and works fulltime in Olds. On Christmas day in 1973 they were blessed with their middle child Barry who still runs the family farm west of town. And lastly in October of 1977 they had their youngest son Greg who resides west of Didsbury as well. Lorna loved her boys unconditionally and would always go above and beyond to make sure they were doing ok and to check in faithfully twice a week to see if they needed anything. One of the cutest things she would do if you happened to be on your phone, she’d always leave a message saying, “it’s your pesky mother please call me back when you have a minute, nothing urgent, ok bye!!” Greg still believes to this day she would do it just so you had to remember your password to get your voicemail. The boys always loved bugging their mom especially if she had the odd blond moment, but she would always say “if I wasn’t being bugged, I would start to worry they didn’t love me”
In 2003 the real sparkle in her eyes started arriving and for the next six years she was blessed with 5 amazing grandchildren. Hunter, Parker, Sierra, Peyton and Levi. Lorna loved being a grandma, there was a special place in her heart for each of them as individuals but even though they could get loud and out of hand she really loved the days when they were altogether. The grandkids will miss her dearly; however, they will have wonderful memories of their grandma. Some of those would include her hugs, countless baking goodies such as rice crispy log, sugar cookies, banana cream pie, listening to her play piano, sharing stories and always having a good laugh, for Hunter and Parker their care packages that were always packed so they always had a little piece of home heading to university, for sleepovers and getting spoiled, and Christmas Eve night at grandma and grandpa’s house.
Lorna was one of the most gentle and kindest people you ever met. Lorna always treated people with the utmost respect and loved visiting with family and friends all the time. She learned these values from her parents at a very young age. Her dedication and many volunteer hours given to the church with a heart full of love will always be something remembered about Lorna. She played the organ and piano for church services, served as a Sunday School teacher, had a huge part in starting youth group back up which still runs today, helped with VBS, church record keeper for several years, served on LWML and many other boards throughout her years. She loved helping with Live Nativity and had a major part in getting the Passion Play started. Lorna dedicated her life to God for 74 plus years and was someone we could all look up to in her Christian journey. She loved her God and was very thankful everyday for his blessings on her and the entire family. Lorna valued people on such a high level, you weren’t just a friend to Lorna you were family!! Core values will always live on in her children and grandchildren.
We could go on and on about all Lorna’s accomplishments throughout life, but the family wanted everyone to remember her for the amazing wife, mother, grandmother and Christian woman she truly was. It was those things that brought her the utmost joy!!!
The family would like to thank everyone for their outpouring of love and support over the past few days, whether it was a text message, phone call, social media or being here today; it meant the world to them.
We hope that we see the world as you did because we know
A life with love is a life that’s been lived
So we’ll sing Hallelujah
You were an angel in the shape of our mom
When we fell down you’d be there holding us up
Spread your wings as you go
And when God takes you back we’ll say Hallelujah
YOU’RE HOME!!!
Amen
Love you Lorna,
Love you Mom,
Love you Grandma!!
She was baptized in Didsbury on May 16th, 1948, confirmed in Didsbury in May of 1962. Lorna graduated from Didsbury High School in June of 1966.
Lorna married the love her life Harry Reese on February 10th, 1968, at the Lutheran Church in Didsbury, Alberta. Harry will still tell you today that it was one of the most beautiful February days ever in Alberta with water running down the street. They would have celebrated their 55th anniversary this February. Harry and Lorna farmed west of Didsbury, and Lorna worked in town full-time as a para legal secretary.
In August of 1971 they started their family with twin boys Colin and Dale. With great sadness three days later Colin passed away, but we know in our hearts he was in heaven to greet her! Dale lives on the main farmyard and works fulltime in Olds. On Christmas day in 1973 they were blessed with their middle child Barry who still runs the family farm west of town. And lastly in October of 1977 they had their youngest son Greg who resides west of Didsbury as well. Lorna loved her boys unconditionally and would always go above and beyond to make sure they were doing ok and to check in faithfully twice a week to see if they needed anything. One of the cutest things she would do if you happened to be on your phone, she’d always leave a message saying, “it’s your pesky mother please call me back when you have a minute, nothing urgent, ok bye!!” Greg still believes to this day she would do it just so you had to remember your password to get your voicemail. The boys always loved bugging their mom especially if she had the odd blond moment, but she would always say “if I wasn’t being bugged, I would start to worry they didn’t love me”
In 2003 the real sparkle in her eyes started arriving and for the next six years she was blessed with 5 amazing grandchildren. Hunter, Parker, Sierra, Peyton and Levi. Lorna loved being a grandma, there was a special place in her heart for each of them as individuals but even though they could get loud and out of hand she really loved the days when they were altogether. The grandkids will miss her dearly; however, they will have wonderful memories of their grandma. Some of those would include her hugs, countless baking goodies such as rice crispy log, sugar cookies, banana cream pie, listening to her play piano, sharing stories and always having a good laugh, for Hunter and Parker their care packages that were always packed so they always had a little piece of home heading to university, for sleepovers and getting spoiled, and Christmas Eve night at grandma and grandpa’s house.
Lorna was one of the most gentle and kindest people you ever met. Lorna always treated people with the utmost respect and loved visiting with family and friends all the time. She learned these values from her parents at a very young age. Her dedication and many volunteer hours given to the church with a heart full of love will always be something remembered about Lorna. She played the organ and piano for church services, served as a Sunday School teacher, had a huge part in starting youth group back up which still runs today, helped with VBS, church record keeper for several years, served on LWML and many other boards throughout her years. She loved helping with Live Nativity and had a major part in getting the Passion Play started. Lorna dedicated her life to God for 74 plus years and was someone we could all look up to in her Christian journey. She loved her God and was very thankful everyday for his blessings on her and the entire family. Lorna valued people on such a high level, you weren’t just a friend to Lorna you were family!! Core values will always live on in her children and grandchildren.
We could go on and on about all Lorna’s accomplishments throughout life, but the family wanted everyone to remember her for the amazing wife, mother, grandmother and Christian woman she truly was. It was those things that brought her the utmost joy!!!
The family would like to thank everyone for their outpouring of love and support over the past few days, whether it was a text message, phone call, social media or being here today; it meant the world to them.
We hope that we see the world as you did because we know
A life with love is a life that’s been lived
So we’ll sing Hallelujah
You were an angel in the shape of our mom
When we fell down you’d be there holding us up
Spread your wings as you go
And when God takes you back we’ll say Hallelujah
YOU’RE HOME!!!
Amen
Love you Lorna,
Love you Mom,
Love you Grandma!!