Lorraine Annie Elizabeth Earl (nee Tanner)
January 24, 1948- May 8, 2023
Mom had her first heart attack at 42. She went on to have countless more, along with many surgeries and procedures, all with the goal of fixing what I’ve come to understand as a truly broken heart, in both a very literal and incredibly spiritual sense.
She was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension, a currently incurable and fatal disease that affects people of all ages. Given only three years to live, she made it for twelve, with stubborn and willful self-advocacy, a touch of bossiness, and an amazing group of clinicians at TGH Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic, RVH Cardiac Care Unit, and a particularly lovely and long-term care provider and friend, Dr. Diane Zatelny.
There were hard years and there were very hard years. She lost the love of her life, her parents, and her brother. But she never lost her laugh. She was happiest with her friends, playing cards, taking day trips, or picking up takeout and hosting an impromptu dinner party. She loved summers and time on Georgian Bay, especially with her grandchildren. She was a proud, proud grandma.
But most of all, she was a down to earth human being doing the best she could with every day she was given. She took nothing for granted and she was grateful. She was a good friend, a maximum three trick pony in the kitchen, but always ready to pull something out of the depths of the overflowing freezer to thaw, freezer burned or not, and serve. Her sweet and sour meatballs have fed legions and while not infused with any depth or umami, they were made from equal parts grape jelly, ketchup, and heart, that little broken one that ticked on way longer than they told her it would.
Lorraine is predeceased by her dad, Richard Tanner, and mom, Reta (nee Robertson), brother (Lorne Tanner), and husband, Robert ("Little Bobby") Earl. I hope she’s out there somewhere making him tea and peanut butter cookies. She is survived by her son Jeff Mills (Susan) and daughter Tara Mills, as well as grandchildren Cameron, Tyler, John, Mae and Ben. Donations can be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic at Toronto General Hospital and/or RVH Cardiac Care Unit. A Celebration of Life will take place at the Southshore Community Centre on Tuesday, May 16th from 6-8pm.