ADELE ARCHER

April 27, 1934 ~ January 27, 2026
Adele Rea Archer, former longtime resident of Thunder Bay, passed away peacefully in Sault Ste. Marie at the age of 91.

Born in Winnipeg and raised on McKenzie Island in Red Lake, she pursued post-secondary studies at the University of Western Ontario, graduating in 1957, before moving on to the Toronto Teachers' College.

Upon graduation, she moved back to Northwestern Ontario and taught French and History at high schools in Fort William and Port Arthur. Within a few years, Madame Archer joined the staff at Fort William Collegiate Institute, a school where she would become an enduring favourite, spending the majority of her career there until retiring in 1994.

She will long be remembered for her enthusiasm and the expressive way she would teach her classes, rarely sitting down, always engaged in conversation. There are thousands of former students who can attest to this!

She will be greatly missed by her three children Nancy Jane (Kari), Susan (Doug) and John (Kim), as well as her six grandchildren Madelaine, Lauren, William, Benjamin, Emily and Gillian, and also her nephew Timothy. She is predeceased by her husband Lawrie, her sisters Grace and Marjorie, and her brothers Lawrence, Albert and Fred. She is also predeceased by Simon, Bentley, Tess and Katy, her beloved Black Labrador Retrievers.

Madame Archer had many interests and volunteered her time generously. She sold daffodils in April on behalf of the Canadian Cancer Society, served on the society's local board and also found time to drive patients to their appointments. She sat on the board of Magnus Theatre and was a staff representative at F.W.C.I. raising money for UNICEF. She was a longtime member of the Anglican Church Women of Canada (ACW) and the Altar Guild at St. Paul's Anglican Church. She was a Salvation Army volunteer and devoted some of her time to Shelter House.

She was also a proud member of the Canadian Federation of University Women, a group that included a number of close friends with whom she enjoyed many a good Christmas eggnog!

As her family, we are sad she is gone but celebrate the long and wonderful life she lived. We would like to thank the staff at Sault Area Hospital for their care and compassion. And we need to especially thank the staff of the Echo Bay wing at Extendicare Maple View for their warmth and support during the last week before she passed. She was comfortable and well taken care of by wonderful people.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, April 6 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul's Anglican Church, 808 Ridgeway Street, Thunder Bay. All are welcome to attend.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Canadian Cancer Society would be appreciated.