Obituary of Lori Brow

B I O G R A P H Y BROW: Lori Mae Brow passed away in the Lloydminster Hospital, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan on Wednesday, April 30 at the age of 48 years. Lori is survived by: her loving husband Bob of Lloydminster; three children: Cory and his fianceé Carmen Findlay, Christopher and his special friend Melissa Blanchette, Benjamin; her mother Ramona Grisbrook; her sister Sheryl and her husband Walt Gabrysh of Lloydminster and families; her brother Gary Grisbrook and his wife Jackie of Neilburg. The memorial service for Lori was conducted from the Grace United Church, Lloydminster, Alberta on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 10:30 A.M. with Joyce Carson officiating. A eulogy was given by Shirley Howrie. The hymn sung was "In The Garden," accompanied by Irene Knowlson on the organ. Special CD music was played. Honorary pallbearers were all her friends. A private family interment was held in the Lloydminster City Cemetery following the service. McCaw Funeral Service Ltd., of Lloydminster administered the funeral arrangements. Lori was born November 6th, 1959 in the Neilburg Hospital and took all of her schooling in Neilburg, graduating in 1977. She then moved to Calgary to work at Ed-Ray Electric. While in Calgary she met Bob and they were married on November 8th, 1980. Their first son Cory was born in Calgary Sept 8th, 1985. After re-locating to Lloydminster, a second son Chris arrived May 25th, 1987. Their family was completed with the birth of Ben on December 15th, 1990. Lori stayed in the home until all three sons had started school then she re-entered the work force. Lori had a great passion for her garden and flowers as well as the family pets. Lori had many talents and was very dedicated to her family and her work. She spent many happy hours attending the Boys' sporting events. She enjoyed the company of her co-workers and the customers became her friends. Family gatherings were very important to Lori, such as Family trips to Edmonton, Family Hockey Drafts and the most recent being her own idea of a Family Christmas gift exchange of exactly 4.99 with receipt attached. Lori was diagnosed with Cancer last May and throughout her brave battle kept a positive attitude, a passion for life, and Love for her Family and Friends. Lori May Brow Nee: Grisbrook Born: November 6, 1959 In Neilburg, Saskatchewan Left to Cherish her memory - her husband Bob - her three sons Cory, Chris and Ben - her mother Mona Grisbrook - her sister Cheryl and Walt Gabrysh, sons - Tyler, Jill and Zack Gabrysh - Heath and Jessica Gabrysh - her brother Garry and wife Jackie Grisbrook She is predeceased by her father Bob Grisbrook Lori grew up on the family farm in Neilburg. She had a few kittens and a family dog and she loved them all. Today, Roofus and Ork knew all about mommas affection. When Lori was 11 years old, her Mom and Dad surprised her with her first Shetlan - cross pony. "Not very well broke." Her mother Mona tells me, "But, it didn't take Chekeeta long before he soon learned who was boss!" She had lots of enjoyment riding and grooming her Chekeeta! Lori took all of her schooling in Neilburg and right after graduating, moved to Calgary to work. That's where all her dreams came true. She met Bob !! They married on November 8, 1980. They soon found their way back to Lloydminster, In 1986, and that's where they've settled for the last 22 years, raising their three sons. I met Lori when she brought Cory to kindergarten. What a gracious lady! Acknowledging me every time, even when I would mistakenly call her Carol! She would stand and admire her young son then as he entered his years of education. Then a second son, Chris .... still that same gracious lady with admiration in her eyes watching her young son. That's when I met Ben. Not quite three years old yet, hiding behind his mother's leg. I tried to get him to talk, but he'd hang on tighter to his mom's leg and then leave with her - holding her hand looking back at me, grinning! Only then to show up a couple of years later, same gracious lady, same admiration for her young son. She is so proud to know that your hard work has paid off as you graduate this year Ben. Lori and Bob spent the next several years chauffeuring kids to ball, hockey, soccer, skiing, snow boarding, volunteer work, secretary for minor hockey, canvassing for the heart and stroke foundation!!! She did it all ... loving every minute. She loved the people and the comradery and socialization that each sporting event held. The Brow household had one of those revolving doors for all the boys friends to drop in. They were always welcome and sat around the kitchen table like they were at home. If only they would use the dishwasher!!! Who knew that Lori and Bob had secretly put money inside the dishwasher to go to the first person who dared open it! Day after day they would check but to no avail. They would load it themselves and wait - nothing- then unload - wait, nothing. Finally they removed the money and paid themselves! Only after they let everyone know did the dishwasher door ever open by anyone else's hand. They would occasionally catch certain people though, taking a peek now and again!! Nintendo! Super Mario!! "Tuck the boys in early and let's play, okay Bob!" They tried and tried and tried as parents we all know that our children hold the secret to all levels, soooo, not to be defeated, they woke up the Super Mario King - 'Chris', to get them past that difficult level. Did I mention it was 1:00 in the morning!! Seven year old Chris obediently got up, got them past the level and then was sent directly back to bed as there was school the next day. I was appalled!! When wrestling with Mom, the boys had to set some rules into place. There was no punching, biting, kicking or scratching when she got them down in one of her holds. Those where their rules for her! Road trips were a blast, and they all knew the rules. If Mom's grin was wiped off her face ... it was wiped off everyone's. They all knew when to be quiet. And don't think you could fool Mom. You may as well fess-up with the truth... Mom always knew what happened before the door opened and if you tried to lie about it, you were in double trouble!! So, can you tell me, can you slide into 1st base or can't you? That was the biggest argument with Bob that the boys can remember. (I won't mention who was right ... okay Bob?) Complain anyone - Lori had the cure - "If you don't like it ... Quit ... but remember ... there's a "No Quitter's Policy!' So, as Cory so eloquently put it, "We'd just suck it up and play like a champ!" Lori loved her flowers, gardening, planting and especially those new potatoes. The back yard was always manicured with stepping stones - each one with a story - little shrubs that had been rescued from someplace - a slip form someone her - a story about this tree. She would always share. This bench was made by Chris - I need to paint that - the fire pit had to be so many feet from her castle so no sparks would have a chance to reach it. She'd walk to the yard and be able to tell you about when she planted and why. Sea shells in the front flower bed and a pedestal showing her creativeness. A breath of fresh air!! Lori had the need to smell everything! Bob would say "It takes her up to 45 minutes to buy shampoo there's so many kinds to smell!" Hockey equipment always proved to be better when Mom smelled out the best elbow pads! Cod live oil pills were amongst the favorite smells. We'd be in Costco and she'd unscrew the cap = never opening the seal of course - and take a long and enjoyable sniff. We'd laugh and carry on. She'd buy the bottle and open them as soon as we got to the vehicle and have some. "No thanks, I'm good Lori!" Lori was very much about being proper and reminding Bob of a few important things in life. Like saying no thanks to salmon sandwich and asking if you have bologna, is a fopa. "Okay Lori." He would respond. Language was another area that Lori excelled in and Bob was her target. "It's 'saw' Bob not 'seen'. He knew as soon as he said it. That's what happens when you marry someone whose mother was a teacher! But alas, love cures everything Bob - even snoring!! Lori shared with me one time about some dolls that her and Cheryl had. Lori loved them, cared for them as her babies, made them clothes, walked them in a little carriage. They were her pride and joy. She was crushed when she saw that Cheryl had taken her doll and cut the hair off. She couldn't believe it. Lori loved to shop! One day she picked up Cheryl to go to Evergreen Greenhouses for trees. Needless to say Lori found the perfect one. The tallest one! They managed to get it to the Explorer, but couldn't seem lift it into the vehicle. Then came the giggles and the laughter, more giggles, more and more. Now if you've ever seen Lori and Cheryl giggle, you'll understand the game was over! They were now useless! Thanks to a very nice, very well dresses lady with NO help from the giggling gerdies! Taking the back roads home, so as to not lose their treasures, they were met by Bob, who was a little less ecstatic unloading, finding the perfect spot, turning it to the perfect side and then planting it. A labor of love! Another tree was bought a Deb's Greenhouse, (Lori made sure that she got to them all), in the Explorer, roots in the front seat with a 10 foot trunk out the back window, Mona, tucking in the back seat with the foliage surrounding her. It was always a blast for Lori! Lori was so happy when Melissa came into their lives. "It's a girl!" She'd take Melissa, rush her upstairs and talk clothes, look at new shoes! There was finally another female in the house. "She's a keeper Chris!" Momma Brow and Grandma only knew Cory's special friend (now fianceé) as 'the brown-haired cutie.' They met her f or the first time when Cory was in the hospital in Edmonton. This 'Pretty Girl' would come and bring him movies. Later they found out her name was Carmen. Lori always stood up for her midgets! That is until she had girls in her life. Don't cross the girls or you'll have to face the wrath of Mom. She'd always apologize for her son's. "Oh, I'm so sorry Carmen! Cory! Leave the room!" Cory's quick response would put all back in order. "I have crones! What do you expect!" Lori was so excited when Chris said he'd paint the house. She looked and looked and looked at colors. It had to be the perfect choice. "It's just paint Lori, Chris would change it again if you really don't life it." Once it was done she was overjoyed. Then Bob did the flooring! Again you could see the pride in her eyes and on her face when all was finished. A job well done. Although they all thought Lori ruled the roost, sometimes when you'd call her for a visits Bob would answer and say "She can't go out right now. Her flowers and laundry aren't done yet!" Her quick wit and dry sense of humor were second to non. I'm sure that's why her and Ken got along so well! Her dedication to work was phenomenal. Keeping everyone in line there was full time job in itself! You see, if Lori had to explain it more than one time to you, she would politely look at you over her glasses, flash her lashes three or four times and ask you to move over. "I'll just do it for you!" God Bless you Lori!!! If Bob felt she corrected his etiquette and speech, she is a Saint for correcting Ken's spelling and grammar. Wherever Lori worked, she was respected for her work ethic. What we call perfection ... Lori said it was just getting the job done! Oh my, how she loved the people who came through that door at work. Each one with a little story. Over the phone, sales people from Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Fort McMurray, places too numerous to mention, would love to spend time talking. Not just about work, but about sharing tips on gardening. Lori touched so many people in her working days with her kind and sincere ways. She loved to hear what they were doing now, how their kids were. She surrounded herself at work with her family too. Pictures of her boys were always right there. She would share stories back and forth. Even in the hospital, she would ask Ken to fill her in on what was happening, where everyone was, what they were doing, have you heard from this one or that. How sales are, are you busy. Lori had many talents and when you put her and Ken together on a team it made Bob and I really happy. Crib anyone? Let's try hearts. Maybe you guys will have better luck with ... Deal or No Deal!! Turned out to be their games, but that was just like work - Deal or No Deal!! Bob would shudder when Lori would go to the greenhouses, let along Reitman's, and then there's those FANTASTIC trips to Edmonton. Lori would phone and ask if we needed a trip. "You Bet! Pick you guys up at 7:00." Bob and Ken almost fell over one time when they met us after their day of golf and our day of shopping. They got dropped off at Timmy's in Sherwood Park. When we opened the truck, of the car, their jaws dropped. "Where are our clubs going to go? What are we supposed to do with them?" Lori and I saw no problem, a little readjusting and all is well. We're good to go! They'd stand and just shake their heads. Then there was the truck and Ikea!! The boys were only a call away. Checking to see where Mom and Dad were. On one trip coming home from Edmonton, Lori got a call from Ben. He was struggling with sunburn he had gotten that day at work.. Lori would walk him through what she thought to be the best remedy and hang up. Ben would call back, "try vinegar," she'd suggest, and hang up. Ben would call back, "How about a bag of frozen peas?" she'd hang up. Between her and me, we were at a loss. What to do. Call Grandma to the rescue! We couldn't get home soon enough for Lori. Once a year we decided we'd take a day trip to wherever. We'd pack a lunch and munchies and XL Timmy's for the road. We'd leave around 8:00 in the morning and stopped wherever, and when every, and get home sometime!! Seventeen lakes later and several stops - lunch on the beach, several strolls ... that's life. FANTASTIC!!! We never ran out of words to share and never tired of each others company. We'd get home rejuvenated, although exhausted, with large grins on our faces. Channel 21 is a favorite of Lori's. The, the weather channel. She knew more information from watching it, like two to three snowflakes under the cloud, means light snowfall; five, a snowstorm; seven, big trouble and any more than that is unheard of. She filled all of our heads with such information. She made it fun! Lori loved her live with her four men. She took it very seriously and passionately. She accepted what life handed her with dignity and never a complaint. She fought hard, never given in on her will to live her life to the fullest. Proud to see her midgets grow into fine young men. As Lori began her life with Bob, it was only fitting that she leave in the same way. Carmen wrote this poem expressing her thought and the thoughts from all of us. Loving, strong, caring and kind Big hearted, beautiful, the best you can find. A wife, a daughter, a mother of three A wonderful friend and mother-in-law to be. Now closer than ever, though world's apart. You were here in our lives, now live in our heart. Hey Lori .... We'll always love you!! Card of Thanks We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to all of our friends, neighbours and relatives for their cards, flowers and food brought to the house. We would also like to thank everyone for their charitable donations to the Lloydminster Regional Health Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society and other local charities. Thanks to Dr. Kerlis and Dr. Rogers for their special care of Lori during this past year. Thanks also to the Cross Cancer Institute and Dr. Perves and Dr. Fenton. A special thank you goes out to the 3rd floor nursing staff, Emergency nursing staff, hospital staff and Home Care nurses for their wonderful care and compassion towards Lori. Thanks to Joyce Carson for the comforting service, organist Irene Knowlson and to Shirley Howrie for the beautiful eulogy. We would also especially like to thank everyone who phoned and visited Lori while she was at home and in the hospital this past year. Thanks th te United Church women for providing the lunch. Special thanks to Dale McCaw and staff during this difficult time. Bob, Cory, Chris, Ben Brow Ramona Grisbrook Sheryl and Walt Gabrysh and Families Gary and Jackie Grisbrook Donations in memory of Lori may be made to the Lloyd Region Health Foundation or to a Charity of the Donor's Choice.