Obituary of Lorraine Craig

February 4, 1930 - November 3, 2023  

Lorraine Craig (nee Hadley), beloved wife of David Craig, passed away on Friday, November 3, 2023 in Calgary, AB at the age of 93 years.

Lorraine was born on February 4, 1930 in the Northern Alberta town of Grande Prairie. At the age of one, Lorraine moved with her parents, Russell and Alice Hadley, to the railway town of McLennan, AB. She decorated stunning Christmas trees with her mother (famous in the entire district) and inherited from her the love of creativity through needlepoint, knitting, crocheting, and painting. Lorraine’s father was a train engineer on the Northern Alberta Railway. The family took many trips to Grande Prairie, Victoria, Vancouver, and Los Angeles, California to visit family. These adventures sparked Lorraine’s passion for travel and at the age of 17 she worked as a waitress in Banff for a couple of summers in a row. After finishing high school, she attended the University of Alberta and studied education. There she met her future husband, David Craig, at the skating rink on the university campus.  

She married David on November 25, 1950 at St. Paul’s Anglican church in McLennan, AB, the same church where she played the organ growing up. As a young married couple, they lived in several small towns in Western Canada, including a cabin in Pigeon Lake, a Terry Rambler trailer in Wetaskiwin, AB, and a small apartment in Estevan, SK. After the birth of their first daughter Colleen in Virden, MB, they moved to Calgary and their second child Jane was born. Lorraine and David raised their daughters in University Heights in Northwest Calgary. Lorraine provided support and wisdom to her husband in his career and inspired her children to pursue various sports and many creative outlets including neighborhood plays and an in-home library. The family home also included many hamsters, gerbils, budgie birds and a long-lived turtle called Pinkie.

Lorraine worked in the Mirror Room at the Hudson’s Bay—a job she flourished at, for she loved clothing and fashion. She continued to travel with David to destinations such as Europe, South Africa, Australia, Canada, and the United States.

In her late forties, Lorraine took up oil painting and quickly became a talented oil painter. Her favorite subjects were the Canadian Rockies and prairie landscapes. When Lorraine became a grandmother to Lyndsey and Lauren, she shared her love of art with them through needlepoint, crocheting, sewing, and painting rocks. Decorating gingerbread houses was a cherished annual tradition at Christmas time. Lorraine loved visits from her granddaughters’ miniature schnauzers Tramp and Tinker Bell.

Lorraine is survived by her husband of 73 years, David Craig; and her two daughters, Colleen Craig (Lynne Viola) and Jane Welch (Michael). She is also survived by her two grandchildren, Lyndsey Welch (Mark Borrelli) and Lauren Paxton (Kyle); sisters-in-law, Mary Ann Milobar and Sharon Hoeght; as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. She was predeceased by her parents Russell and Alice Hadley; brothers-in-law, Gordon (Jeep) Thomas, Jim Hoeght, and Dr. Tony Milobar; and sister-in-law Betty Thomas.

Funeral Services will be held at McInnis & Holloway (Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB) on Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Reception to follow in the Hospitality Centre at the Funeral Home. Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Lorraine’s service streamed live (see below) on the day of the service. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Lorraine’s family here.

We offer our sincere thanks to the entire staff of Staywell Manor Village and the Rockyview Hospital.

In living memory of Lorraine Craig, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.

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