Peacefully, in the early morning hours of Saturday May 25th, 2013, at home, after 17 indomitable years with cancer as her adversary. Born in 1954 to J.W.W. Clark (last lighthouse keeper at Cape George, NS) and his wife Salome Dorothy, she was the tenth of twelve siblings: Bud, Billy (deceased), Robert, Don, Tom, Gerry, Wayne, and Greg Clark, Fay McInnis, Willie Lundrigan (deceased), and Lynn Osmond. She raised two wonderful children, Chantal (graduate student at Simon Fraser University) and Joshua (theatre and film student at UVic) Turpin. Her family, and her global diaspora of friends, will miss her.
Laurene’s life migrated from the east coast of Canada to the west coast, touching uncounted lives along the way. From her early childhood at the Lighthouse, she moved to Montague, Prince Edward Island. After high school, she took her BA at the University of PEI, followed by a business degree from the University of Ottawa, becoming the Business Manager of the Canadian National Synchronized Swimming Team in the early 1980’s. From there she helped launch Kingston & The Islands Boat Line in Kingston, where Chantal was born, before moving to Vancouver, where Joshua was born, and where she owned Kerrisdale Bootery.
The family soon returned to positions at Queen’s University in Kingston, where an early diagnosis galvanized Laurene into becoming one of Canada’s leading advocates for breast cancer prevention. She was president of the first World Conference on Breast Cancer in 1997, before heading all the way west to Victoria in 2000. Soon, Laurene was a driving force for the Island Breaststrokers Dragon Boat team, also paddling on collaborative Canadian teams in South Africa, Israel and Australia.
Laurene was also a key organizer of fund-raising efforts across the city, and she enjoyed every step of her busy life (MBD Consulting, Royal LePage Oak Bay Real Estate), charging each day with an energy that left the rest of her friends exhausted. In just the past few months, she toured the Mediterranean and San Francisco, shone as a hostess at the IBS Auction, and was orchestrating a heritage designation for the lighthouse.
A memorial will be held at McCall Bros. Funeral Home of Victoria on Thursday, May 30th at 2pm, with a reception to follow. The family asks that memorial donations be made to the BC Cancer Foundation http://bccancerfoundation.com. Condolences may be offered to the family below.
23 Responses
It is now almost November and I just heard about Laurene. I am truly saddened by the news I heard today and I express my deepest sympathy to her family.
I met Laurene when I was a student at Queen’s and worked for her at the Kingston Thousand Islands Boat Line. She was a fabulous boss and she saw something in me that I didn’t know I had. I had versatility. She believed in me and that changed my life.
I worked for her for two fabulous summers and then she got called away west with her family. We kept in touch and when she returned to work at Queen’s she hired me again to help launch the Herstmonseux Castle study abroad project.
I wish that I had been better at keeping in touch. The strength that she had with the battle she faced is apparent in the words written above. I think of you often, Laurene, and you are still an inspiration to me.
Sincerely,
Carrie Lynn Macpherson (Young)
It was with great sadness we read of Shirley’s passing. We have many happy memories of the times shared at Cape George and at Lakevale School. Our sincere condolences on your loss may your many happy memories sustain you during this sad time.
Rose & Joe Boudreau
I had the privilege of working with Laurene on two of the World Conferences on Breast Cancer. She was an amazing woman, a brilliant organizer, and a wonderful friend. Chantal and Josh, my heart aches for you in your loss but know that your mother touched many, many lives and she will never be forgotten. Here’s to you both and your futures; may you shine with the light gleaned from your mother and her love for you. Sincerely, Elizabeth, Kingston.