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
I too, had the opportunity to dragon boat with her in New York, and swim in the Hudson, and in Africa with Canadians Abreast. She put her heart and soul into every paddle stroke as she did with life.
On behalf of the six Lane offspring of Montague-born-and-raised Arnold and Jean (Hunter-Duvar) Lane, our condolences to Laurene’s family. Time allotted to us to spend time with Laurene was low in frequency, but high in quality.
I am picturing Josh’s face as he is being pulled at high speed behind the motor boat on the lake at the cottage as his mom navigates the waves and makes sure her son is given a good run for his money.
I am also picturing Josh’s face, the day he arrived at our cabin at Paddy’s Lake as a 5 yr-old boy. He had broken through some ice up to his thighs on a winter hike out to our remote cabin with his dad.
I also picture Chantal issuing words of wisdom far beyond her years over our many visits with her and her family.
I will hold these pictures just as I hold the memory of Laurene. She navigated the waters (speed boat, dragon boat and “life” boat) with a fierce courage always …
I send all my love on behalf of myself and Zinta and Rena and Hayden. Thinking of you
Dear Chantal & Josh :
Although years apart in age, we,( your Mom and I) often had similar ideas and thoughts about many things. You two were her proudest subjects and she never skimped on letting everyone know how much she loved you both. You were always in her thoughts and she wanted nothing more than good things for you and would do what was necessary to make your dreams come to be reality.
We went to Mexico last November and she looked like a million dollars and I will remember her as she was then. My heart goes out to you and hope if you ever need something that I (We) can help you with, that you can know we are here for you both. Love to you both……Aunt Fay & Uncle Bill
The Canvin family extends our deepest sympathy to Josh, Chantal and the Clark family. We shared many happy hours with Laurene, Josh and Chantal at Snug Harbour Resort. Laurene was always so positive, always asking “What can I do? How can I help?” Her dynamic presence enriched us all. When the Canvin family was having its troubles, Laurene was very compassionate and helpful to us. Marie Canvin, in particular, was very grateful to Laurene for her emotional support and lending a sympathetic ear. Our thoughts and prayers are with Josh, Chantal and the Clark family.
I had the wonderful opportunity to meet this fabulous woman while dragon boating with Canadians Abreast. The family also had a cottage on Sydenham Lake, in Ontario which I had the privilege to visit to enjoy a glass of wine and share a laugh about our dragonboat adventures. On our trip to NYC we had the unfortunate experience of tipping our boat into the Hudson River, where she bravely swam with the dragon head in her arms to safety. She was a fierce competitor and put everything she had into everything she did. Rest in Peace, my friend.
So sorry to hear of Laurene passing she was always so up beat about anything she wanted to do .She would be so happy to see the new paint job on the Cape Lighthouse she always stayed connected.Our thoughts & prayers goes out to the Clark Family.
&Chantal Joshua.
Words cannot express the feelings that we are feeling for you Chantal and Josh. We love you very much and we express our sympathies to you. Our thoughts and our prayers are with you through this difficult time. She was a very special person and she will live forever in everyone’s hearts. Remember that smile that was always on her face. She touched so many people through her life.
Her memory will live on forever.
Laurene, your unquenchable spirit will always be an inspiration to each of us.
Laurene – too soon. We briefly shared an office at Royal LePage in Oak Bay. One of my earliest memories of Laurene is at the Royal LePage Convention in Montreal a few years ago – the best dressed flapper and 60’s era dancer there! Her knowledge and dedication to her many professional triumphs is legendary. She often told me how proud she was of her children. She doted on them and they on her. Go in peace Laurene, you are already sorely missed. Vicky Turner