Noreen Margaret Dunbar
Noreen Margaret Dunbar passed away gently on December 22, 2016, in Edmonton, AB at the age of 84.
Our beautiful Noreen was born in Port Arthur, ON (Thunder Bay). She worked and had many adventures as a Bell Telephone Supervisor, RNA, bookkeeper, family support caregiver, and motel proprietor. In the 1970’s was a founding member of The Northern Women's Centre and Northern Woman Journal.
Noreen lived each day with practicality and an independent, empathetic spirit. With her attention on the women’s movement she volunteered at a transition house for abused senior women after retirement. In 1987 she and her beloved husband, Charlie, made the move to follow their hearts to White Rock, BC. There they spent many wonderful years travelling, dancing, sailing, enjoying friendships and living life to the fullest.
Noreen will be greatly missed and forever loved by her three children, Randy Lavoie (Judy) of Kindersley, SK, Sandy Lavoie (Michael Hrycyschyn) of Edmonton, AB, Marcy Lavoie (Victor Lucas) of Vancouver, BC; her grandchildren Jason, Jenna, Erin, Renee, Ruby and Charlie’s nine children. Also remembering her are her many supportive lifelong friends, relatives, feminist sisters in Thunder Bay, and her dear friends from the White Rock Traditional Jazz Society where she had been an active member for many years.
Noreen is predeceased by her brother Jerry Dunbar, her parents Edith (Sinclair) and Gordon Dunbar, Marcel Lavoie the father of her three children, and her love, Charlie Skinner.
We are so grateful to have had this smart, principled and incredibly loving woman in our lives.
At Noreen’s request, there will be no public memorial service.
Memorial contributions may be made to a heart and stroke foundation or a charity of your choice.
Your mom was a very special woman who embodied the concept of a purpose filled life. My deepest condolences to her children and grandchildren.
Love and hugs,
Charlaine
I think i speak for all of us in expressing our deepest Condolences at the loss of your adoring mother.
We are so grateful to have had her in our lives as a friend and step mother.
In meeting her…..we met all of of you ,for which we will be ever grateful.
She left quite a legacy for all of us in life’s lessons.
We are also thankful that she met our dad and added such joy to his life .
They made quite a team.
Love you all.
Ann and the Skinner Family
My deepest condolence to you Sandy, Michael and the girls and rest of the family. I never meet her but from the picture she look like very gentle, loving lady. My thoughts are with you. Love you.
Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you at this time
Thinking of you at this sad time, Judy and Chris.
My thoughts & prayers are with you all. Your Mother was a special caring person, & raised such wonderful children. I know she will be missed by you all. She is till watching over you..
As one of Noreen’s Thunder Bay ‘sisters’ who had the honour to continue our friendship on the West Coast, she will always be in my heart. My condolences to the family on the loss of your beautiful mother and grandmother. Helen
Just read this today, our thoughts are with you all during this time. May your precious memories be with you always, hugs to everyone. Cheryl & Glenn, Thunder Bay
I worked with Noreen on the Northern Woman Journal from about 1976-1979. She had a sharp mind and a tender heart. I will miss her. My condolences to your family.
Dear family,
Noreen was an integral part of my life both as a personal friend and mentor. I miss her for her integrity, passion, caring and inner drive for all she believed in. My parents valued she and Charlie enough to follow them out to BC and continued to share much laughter and adventures together for many years. She has lived a meaningful and well loved life.
My condolences for your loss. May Noreen’s legacy continue through each of you as you carry her in your hearts. All the best in life to all.
I knew Noreen when I lived in Thunder Bay in the 1980’s. She was such a wonderful person to work with. Her intelligence, thoughtful activism and deep commitment to women’s issues shone through. I am so glad to have had the honour of knowing her, briefly.
I’m sure her friends and families will miss her greatly.
Warm regards
I’m one of those feminist sisters from Thunder Bay, and I was very sorry to hear of her passing. I know she and her family have been through a lot with her health issues in recent years. Noreen was (like me) outspoken about social justice issues, and especially about women’s rights. I know of no stronger feminist, personally, and I was in among many strong feminists in the 1980’s in Thunder Bay. Many of them became members at a fluid and moving collective of women who worked on and published the Northern Woman Journal here. Noreen was extremely proud of being a part of our movement and very fierce and vocal about many issues (not the least of which was correcting sexist language). I have some wonderful cards from her, too, in which she said she “had a ball” doing our work on behalf of women and Canadian society. Her wonderful spirit remains with us all!
It is never easy to lose such an inspirational person in the world. I admired her for strength and women’s rights support. I sincerely give my condolences to the family.
I grudgingly accept that Noreen is gone. I am grateful I had a chance to visit with her this summer. She never forgot her Thunder Bay sisters and we will not forget her. Good memories to all.
My condolence to Noreen’s family, I knew Noreen from working at the Northern Women’s Journal, Thunder Bay and we have several close friends in common. I also moved out to the West Coast where we were able to reconnect. Noreen is a friend and feminist who I cherish and will miss. My deepest sympathy for your loss. My heart and thoughts go out to you and the family. Sharon