Obituary of Loretta Fraser

Loretta was born on the homestead two miles west of Primate, Saskatchewan. It is in Primate that Loretta would attend and complete her schooling. At the age of 16, Loretta attended her first public dance at Meadowland School. In the fall of 1944 Loretta entered Normal School in Saskatoon then taught for four years at Ackerman School followed by a year of teaching at Hampton School before changing careers. During this time, her sister Hilda was ready for nurses training at the St. Boniface School of Nursing in Winnipeg, Manitoba and insisted that Loretta join her. Unfortunately Hilda's hopes were dashed when in the latter part of the second year she was diagnosed with having M.S. and could not continue the training. Loretta stayed with the course and graduated as a Registered Nurse on May 1, 1951. Loretta married Lawerence Fraser on July 5, 1956. Following their marriage, at the request of the Chief of Orthopedics, Loretta was assigned as head nurse of the orthopedic department where she stayed for nine years. After the Sisters left as department heads, she was assigned as Assistant Supervisor, then later as Supervisor of Operating Rooms, Intensive Care and Post Surgery. There were 105 employees and she received a salary of $240.00 plus $20.00 increments. Loretta was on call 24 hours a day. Open heart surgeries were frequently booked in the middle of the night so extra staff had to be called. Undoubtedly, this was a very heavy and intense responsibility. Due to the intensity of this position, Lawerence insisted Loretta resign and on May 23, 1973 she left the hospital. Together they spent two weeks in London, England and Nassau, Bahamas. Travel was very welcomed as it was uncomplicated and pleasant for them both. In 1980, Lawerence became ill and eventually passed away on February 5, 1981. In 1990, Loretta was given the option by St. Boniface Hospital to relocate to make way for their new parkade. With the help of a real estate lady, Loretta searched for a lot in this familiar area from October to April. After looking over many old houses, she was about to give up when Loretta spied a dilapidated two story house. After locating the owner of the rental house, she began the steps of negotiating with the hospital, the city etc. to have the lot surveyed and inspected to have the house moved and a new one built. There were many sleepless nights through this process. Finally, Loretta would relocate from Berry Street into her new house at 247 Dolland on October 22, 1991. After Lawerence's passing, five years of teaching, twenty five years of nursing and the passing of her mother on July 13, Loretta needed a vacation. So on August 10 she left for an overland tour of Europe and Russia for twenty three days. This was followed by three major trips in 1995 - Salvador, Brazil for three weeks, Jordan, Israel and Egypt and finally to Rome for the canonization of Eugene Mazenod. Loretta also visited the Holy Land in 1999 and in 2001 to pilgrimages in Lisbon, Portugal, Spain and Rome. Following all of this, she resettled into her new home and enjoyed many pleasant memories while taking many short trips home to Macklin, also to Kenora and North Dakota with her late friend, Evelyn Housirn. In February of 2013, Loretta had a fall that left her with a broken hip, spending two months in the Winnipeg Hospital. It was then decided that she would move back to Macklin, Saskatchwan. In April, she became a resident at St. Joseph's Health Centre. Following another fall and breaking her wrist, her health continued to fail and she was transferred to the Unity Health Care Centre. Peacefully on May 25, 2013 Loretta Fraser (nee Stang) of Winnipeg, Manitoba passed away at the age of 88 years. Loretta is survived by her brothers, Victor (Theresa) Stang and Clarence (Armella) Stang; sister in law, Louise; as well as many other relatives. She was predeceased by her husband, Lawerence; brothers, Ted (Julia) Stang, Roman Stang and Ed Stang; sisters, Frieda (August), Hilda (Florence) and Marcella (Harold); nephews, Blake, Shawn, and Joe; nieces, Jenifer and Loretta. Now to all of you, through love and hope we ask that you will remember Loretta and Lawerence in your prayers. May God Bless all of you abundantly and our deepest heartfelt thanks for being such a loving and caring family.