It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden passing of our mother, Lorraine Dunleavy (born Marie Lucille Lorraine Geddry), on March 2, 2026. Lorraine was born on January 12, 1941, in the small town of St. Alphonse, Nova Scotia, to Benoit and Rita Geddry. She was the eldest of six children and was predeceased by her brother Hubert and sister Louise.
Lorraine is survived and mourned by her partner of 42 years, Dr. Keith Murden. She is also lovingly remembered by her three children, Danny (Zsa Zsa), Eileen, and Joanne (Lorne); her siblings Delbert, Pauline, and Eric; and her seven grandchildren, Bianka, Mathieu, Julie, Elise, Jocelyne, Isabelle, and Adam.
Lorraine was a proud Acadian through and through. She traced her Geddry roots back to 1648, and the Acadian flag found its way onto everything she owned—from bumper stickers to key chains. She was also an avid reader and our personal “phone‑a‑friend” for grammar, sentence structure, and spelling. We are frankly quite nervous writing this without her!
At eighteen, Lorraine left Nova Scotia to begin a new life in Ontario. When her children arrived—three in three years—she somehow managed to balance the whirlwind of motherhood with working full time outside the home. Her strong work ethic and commitment to excellence shaped her children from the very beginning.
When Lorraine met Keith, they began a wonderful new chapter together. In 2001, they retired to Nova Scotia and shared a life filled with family and experiences they both enjoyed. They loved garden tours, classical concerts, volunteering, and attending Acadian festivals. Lorraine especially enjoyed playing Scrabble, quilting, puzzles, and crosswords. For many years, Lorraine and Keith escaped the Nova Scotian winters by spending time in Mérida, Mexico. They made many friends there and embraced the local culture—and of course, the sunshine and warm weather.
Four years ago, Lorraine and Keith returned to Ontario from Nova Scotia, giving us the gift of more time together. This time will be treasured now more than ever.
Family and friends gathered on Sunday, March 8, 2026, to honour Lorraine and reflect on the impact she had on all our lives. A second celebration of life will be held this summer in St. Alphonse, where her family there will come together to remember her.