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UPCOMING SERVICE
LOIS HUTCHINGS Obituary
LOIS MARILYN HUTCHINGS
1938-2025
The Milky Way has lost one of its brightest stars: Lois Marilyn Hutchings, loving and cherished mother, passed away peacefully in the embrace of her four children in her home on October 11, 2025, in Renfrew, Ontario. From the moment of her death, Lois has left a profound void her family will never fill; at the same time, the children she steeped in her abundant love have already begun passing it down to future generations.
Lois was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1938 to Reuben Roy Hutchings and Marjorie Ileene Barradell, a baby sister for Aileen, Muriel, and Bill. Lois and her family moved three times before settling permanently in Fort William (now Thunder Bay), Ontario, when she was five years old. After high school, Lois worked first as a dental assistant and then as an airline stewardess. Lois always regarded Thunder Bay as her home, relishing memories of riding her bike everywhere, watching airport take-offs and landings with her father, taking in the magnificent Kakabeka Falls, and seeing her nieces and nephews grow up and nurture families of their own.
After marriage, Lois fulfilled her unwavering dream from an early age to be a mother. She gave birth to Barbara Lynn Secker (Keith Foster), Susan Leah Secker Young (George Young), Jeffrey Alan Secker (Julie Lefebvre), and Lori Ellen Secker Riker (Greg Wichlacz). She was a loving and endlessly proud mother who described the happiest days of her life as the ones she first held each of her children in her arms. Lois brought love not only to her birth children, but also to several newborn babies she fostered for the Children's Aid Society. She also rescued, fostered, or adopted beloved furry feline and canine family members.
When her children were older, Lois returned to the workforce for 10 years as the private secretary to the Regional Coroner in Parry Sound, Ontario; she then served a number of communities in Ontario and Manitoba for many years as a minister's wife.
Hallmarks of Lois' personality included kindness, friendliness, inclusiveness, intense curiosity, and a great capacity to love. Throughout her life, Lois distinguished herself as an outstanding and generous baker, cook, and craftswoman, as well as a caring volunteer in hospitals and humane societies. Lois found unsurpassed joy and wonder in nature's beings, beauty, and phenomena, especially the northern lights, thunderstorms, and the Sleeping Giant.
Lois was preceded in death by her father, mother, and siblings Aileen Dykes, Muriel Marr, and Bill Hutchings. She is survived by her four children; her grandchildren Kaitlyn Young (Alam), Michèle Lefebvre (Miles), James Alec Young (Catrina), Lauriane Lefebvre, Thomas Riker, Pascale Lefebvre, Aidan Riker, and Noah Wichlacz; and her nephews and nieces Rick Dykes (Jane), Bob Dykes, Lois Dykes Kibsey (Mike), Janis Dykes (Mearle), Allison Marr, Jim Rogers, Scott Hutchings, Kim Hutchings Rogers and Stephen Secker.
A memorial service will be held on November 15, 2025, at 11am at Newboro United Church in Newboro, Ontario, with a reception to follow.
A headstone for Lois will be located in the Hutchings Family Cemetery in Newboro, Ontario.
In lieu of flowers, Lois and her family would appreciate donations to Furry Tales Cat Rescue (Smiths Falls, Ontario) or the Newboro United Church.
1938-2025
The Milky Way has lost one of its brightest stars: Lois Marilyn Hutchings, loving and cherished mother, passed away peacefully in the embrace of her four children in her home on October 11, 2025, in Renfrew, Ontario. From the moment of her death, Lois has left a profound void her family will never fill; at the same time, the children she steeped in her abundant love have already begun passing it down to future generations.
Lois was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1938 to Reuben Roy Hutchings and Marjorie Ileene Barradell, a baby sister for Aileen, Muriel, and Bill. Lois and her family moved three times before settling permanently in Fort William (now Thunder Bay), Ontario, when she was five years old. After high school, Lois worked first as a dental assistant and then as an airline stewardess. Lois always regarded Thunder Bay as her home, relishing memories of riding her bike everywhere, watching airport take-offs and landings with her father, taking in the magnificent Kakabeka Falls, and seeing her nieces and nephews grow up and nurture families of their own.
After marriage, Lois fulfilled her unwavering dream from an early age to be a mother. She gave birth to Barbara Lynn Secker (Keith Foster), Susan Leah Secker Young (George Young), Jeffrey Alan Secker (Julie Lefebvre), and Lori Ellen Secker Riker (Greg Wichlacz). She was a loving and endlessly proud mother who described the happiest days of her life as the ones she first held each of her children in her arms. Lois brought love not only to her birth children, but also to several newborn babies she fostered for the Children's Aid Society. She also rescued, fostered, or adopted beloved furry feline and canine family members.
When her children were older, Lois returned to the workforce for 10 years as the private secretary to the Regional Coroner in Parry Sound, Ontario; she then served a number of communities in Ontario and Manitoba for many years as a minister's wife.
Hallmarks of Lois' personality included kindness, friendliness, inclusiveness, intense curiosity, and a great capacity to love. Throughout her life, Lois distinguished herself as an outstanding and generous baker, cook, and craftswoman, as well as a caring volunteer in hospitals and humane societies. Lois found unsurpassed joy and wonder in nature's beings, beauty, and phenomena, especially the northern lights, thunderstorms, and the Sleeping Giant.
Lois was preceded in death by her father, mother, and siblings Aileen Dykes, Muriel Marr, and Bill Hutchings. She is survived by her four children; her grandchildren Kaitlyn Young (Alam), Michèle Lefebvre (Miles), James Alec Young (Catrina), Lauriane Lefebvre, Thomas Riker, Pascale Lefebvre, Aidan Riker, and Noah Wichlacz; and her nephews and nieces Rick Dykes (Jane), Bob Dykes, Lois Dykes Kibsey (Mike), Janis Dykes (Mearle), Allison Marr, Jim Rogers, Scott Hutchings, Kim Hutchings Rogers and Stephen Secker.
A memorial service will be held on November 15, 2025, at 11am at Newboro United Church in Newboro, Ontario, with a reception to follow.
A headstone for Lois will be located in the Hutchings Family Cemetery in Newboro, Ontario.
In lieu of flowers, Lois and her family would appreciate donations to Furry Tales Cat Rescue (Smiths Falls, Ontario) or the Newboro United Church.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by The Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal on Oct. 25, 2025.