Alsace Lorraine McCallum

Alsace Lorraine McCallum July 19, 1919 - February 17, 2015 The world has lost a gentle soul. Alsace Lorraine McCallum (Vervais), known to her friends and family as Lorraine, died peacefully after a long and fruitful life. Lorraine grew up in Vancouver: her childhood home was on 7th avenue near Granville, later the family moved to West 5th Avenue near Alma street. Growing up she attended Lord Tennyson Elementary School and Kitsilano High School. Her childhood straddled both pre and post-Depression eras and in 1943, during World War 2 she married Richard McCallum. They lived in Hamilton, Ontario where he was an instructor during the war. She was widowed in 2005. They made their home in the Capilano Highlands area in North Vancouver where they had many good, close friends and helped create an idyllic 1950's era childhood for their three children. Lorraine and her husband were instrumental in establishing what was then called the Association for the Mentally Retarded in order to assist their son who was born with Down's syndrome.

She always made our family home a welcoming place for all the neighbourhood children. The result of her welcoming ways was that her mentally handicapped son was included in all the neighbourhood activities, and our childhood years were spent in a special, loving and inclusive place. This was during a time when including the mentally challenged in such ordinary things was not common. Lorraine also completed a University degree at a time when education for married mothers was not encouraged, and she completed her degree in Education at SFU. She taught at Caulfeild Elementary school in West Vancouver, and loved her time there. After her husband died she moved to Crescent Gardens in South Surrey to live nearer to her daughter and son-in-law. She thrived both as a teacher and as a mother. She was a strong-willed yet gentle and kind woman; beautiful both inside and out. We miss her keenly.

Thank you to the caring, kind staff at Morgan Place Care Home for all the many ways they helped to make her last few months comfortable.