Violet "Lorraine" ROBBIE

On September 30, 2021, Violet Lorraine Robbie passed away at Rose Villa in Rosetown, Saskatchewan.  She was 85 years old.  A lifelong Rosetown resident, Lorraine did everything with her whole heart, was well-loved by her home town and very involved in the community throughout her life.  She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

Lorraine was born in Rosetown Hospital on December 14, 1935.  She was the only child of James and Bertha Sanderson.  She grew up on the family farm in Anglia District, attending Oliver School, until moving to Rosetown in the fall of 1949.  Losing her Dad at an early age, Lorraine’s Mom instilled a great strength and determination in her throughout her life, making her a very independent woman and enabling her to pass such strength down to her children.

Lorraine married Charles Carss in 1954 and moved to the Carss farm in the Rhondda District.  Together they welcomed four children, Penny (Harv) Speers of Medicine Hat, Alberta, Beverley (Ross) Millar of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Kevin (Peggy) Carss of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and Gayle (Peter) Lywood of Calgary, Alberta; ten grandchildren, Jeff (Angelina) Speers, Rob (Ray) Speers, Angela (Mark) Stodalka, Jody Carss, Ryan Carss, Taylor Carss, Donovan (Anna) Franklin, Devin Franklin, Evan Lywood and Sarah Lywood; and twelve great grandchildren: Wednesday, Asha, Josie, Eloise, Paige, Allison, Haylee, Ryder, Easton, Owen, Lacon and Dax. 

Lorraine was a typical farm wife, juggling full-time work at RBC, her four kids and a very large garden.  On top of this, she was also a member of the Leona Rebekah Lodge, the Fortune Community Club and other organizations. Lorraine was a wonderful cook; homemade bread, fried chicken, sweet and sour spareribs, and chiffon cake were some of her specialties; a talented seamstress, sewing for her children (especially Halloween costumes).  She loved music and if you hummed her any tune, she could play it on the piano or organ. 

Though their relationship turned out to be less permanent than either of them expected, Lorraine went on to marry Verne Robbie on April 2, 1994, and welcomed two more children into her life, Laurie Robbie of Flaxcombe, Saskatchewan, and Noelene (Ron) Puckey of Blackfalds, Alberta; and four more grandchildren: Bailey Capenhurst, Donovan Puckey, Kalyn Robbie, and Nicole Robbie. 

Lorraine then became a farmer’s wife for a second time ten miles north of Herschel and immersed herself immediately into the Herschel community.  Being the outgoing person that she was, she became a member of the Herschel UCW, the Herschel Legion and any other community organizations that needed assistance.  If someone needed something, Lorraine was there to help.  She even, as a woman ahead of her time and at the age of 60, started her own sewing business, Verlor Fab-Tech, in Herschel at the Ancient Echos Interpretative Centre. 

Sadly, in 2011 Lorraine’s memory started to fail, and in 2012 Lorraine was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and, although Verne was able to care for her in their farm home for a number of years, in 2016 she moved into Rose Villa.  Although this disease stripped Lorraine of her voice,  it never stole her beautiful smile; giving us all comfort through her final few years before succumbing to the disease.

Lorraine was predeceased by her parents and granddaughter, Tristan Blandford.

Special thanks to the staff of Rose Villa.  In place of flowers, please make a memorial donation to the Heartland Health Region “For Activity Fund”, Box 850, 409 Highway 4 South, Rosetown, Saskatchewan, S0L 2V0.

The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.  May you rest in Heaven Sweetheart.