1948 ~ Dolores "Laurie" Ann Arnold (Sorenson) ~ 2021 "She was an incredible wife, mother, sister, aunt, colleague, and friend".
Posted Nov 29, 2021 | 3:46 PM
Dolores “Laurie” Ann Arnold passed away peacefully, after a valiant battle with cancer, with her husband, Larry by her side, at the Red Deer Hospice, Red Deer Alberta on Friday, November 19, 2021 at the age of 73 years. Laurie was born in Red Deer, Alberta on November 9, 1948. Laurie’s early school years were in Red Deer, and she completed Grade twelve in Calgary. Her first vocation was in Calgary, and then she moved to Rocky Mountain House, where she raised her family with her first husband, Ray Hand. She was an intelligent and resourceful woman, having worked at the CIBC, owning the Hair Fever Salon, owning and doing books for R&L Hand Trucking, working for the town of Rocky, bookkeeping for Baseline Pressure Testers and Triple A Feeders. She was an incredible wife, mother, sister, aunt, colleague, and friend. Laurie was diagnosed with lung and metastatic brain cancer in June 2020. In spite of this devastating diagnosis, she was determined to fight this beast – and fight she did! Her tenacity and strength allowed her to overcome the many side effects of her treatments and medications. She lost the beautiful red hair she was known for, but the soft grey curls that replaced it were gorgeous! Laurie spent countless hours working in her yard, and in her garden, with the fruits of her labours being shared with those who stopped by. She was always a gracious hostess ensuring those who stopped in were offered food or drink! She loved family and friends popping by, visiting around the fire, singing, sewing, golfing, camping, walking, travelling to Yuma in the winter, and beating anyone (especially Larry) in a game of crib! Laurie was always moving, always busy! Her greatest attribute was her generosity – of her time, her heart, and her love. Laurie is going to be deeply missed by those who knew and loved her. Laurie will be lovingly remembered by her husband of thirty years, Larry; her step mother, Fran Sorenson, her son, Lance (Nikki) Hand of Chilliwack; her daughter, Laurie Canning (Mike Michener) of Red Deer County; her step son, Jerry (Stacy) Arnold of Leslieville; her step son, Jim (Lee-Anne) Arnold of Valley View, and her step daughter, Michelle Arnold of Kelowna. She will also be lovingly remembered by her siblings, Leroy Lyon of Edmonton, Ken Sorenson (Donna Shaurette) of Rocky Mountain House, Marlayne Sorenson of Red Deer, Deborah (Jarvis) Evans of Nanaimo, Gary (Monique) Speight of Sundre, Glen Speight (Christine Ocampo) of Rocky Mountain House, Doug (Joanne) Osborne of Sundre, her sister-in-law Brenda Sorenson of Rocky Mountain House, and her lifelong best friends, Melody Bagstad and Terrie Speight. She will be greatly missed by her grandchildren and her step grandchildren, Dallas, Jewel, Kassidy (Dalton), Eriq, Zoey, Nathan, Rylan, Channelle (Lee), Cody, Payton, Riess, Paige, and Layne; and her step great grandchildren, Ruby, Kai and Myles. She will be fondly remembered by her numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and many great friends. Laurie was predeceased by her parents, Gladys Osborne and William Sorenson, her brothers, Keith Sorenson, Ralph Sorenson, and Lorne Speight, her sisters, Della Walker and Margaret Sorenson, and an infant brother, Dwayne. A Private Family Graveside Service is planned for the spring of 2022. A Celebration of Laurie’s Life with family and friends, complete with camping, a bonfire, music, food and drinks is being planned for the spring of 2022, pending lifting Covid restrictions. Flowers are gratefully declined. If desired, Memorial Donations in Laurie’s honor may be made directly to the Red Deer Hospice Society at www.reddeerhospice.com or to the Gamma Knife Centre, c/o University of Alberta Hospital, 8440 – 112 Street NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2B7, The Central Alberta Cancer Centre www.albertacancer.ca/donate or to a Charity of the donor’s choice. Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.parklandfuneralhome.com.
Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium (Red Deer)
6287 – 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer. 403.340.4040.
ONLY LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED FUNERAL HOME/CREMATORIUM
IN THE CITY OF RED DEER.
- Date : 2021-11-29
- Location : www.ParklandFuneralHome.com & www.HeartlandFuneralServices.com