It is with the deepest sorrow that we share the passing of Constance Loreen Adams Haldenby at the age of 93. “Loreen” passed away from heart failure in the early morning of Sunday, October 26th. She had just celebrated her 93rd birthday.
A well-loved writer of poetry and short stories, Loreen was best known for her memoirs of growing up in depression era Newfoundland. She was a regular contributor to the Downhomer, Newfoundland Quarterly and Canadian Stories and one of her greatest prides was to know that her stories were preserved in the archives of Memorial University in St John’s NFLD.
Loreen was a deeply beloved mother to William (Kay) Haldenby, Constance (Larry) Lacy. grandmother to Christopher (Sarah), Kayle and Joshua Donner, Bobby and Meaghan Haldenby and great grandmother to Elliott and Ingrid Donner. She will also be deeply missed by her niece Pauline (Eldon) Snow, nephews and niece Rick, Rob and Cathy Fry and many other dear family members, friends and neighbours. Loreen’s passing was proceeded by her husband of almost 60 years Ralph Haldenby, a former teacher at Conestoga College. In recent years dementia had taken many of her memories but she still always remembered what was most important to her, her cat, music, books, opal jewellery ( her birthstone) the colour blue, her home in Newfoundland and most of all her beloved family. She was sweet and kind all of her life and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Loreen had asked to be cremated. A private celebration of Loreen’s life will be held at the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL on Saturday, August 28, 2021 at 11:00 am. Guests are invited to attend remotely via Zoom by clicking the link in Loreen’s notice on the funeral home website: www.wallcustance.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Guelph Humane Society or the Scott Mission in Toronto are welcome.
“I will lift up my eyes from whence cometh my help”.
Our mother has been lifted into heaven this day. She left us this poem to be read upon her death:
On My Death by Loreen Haldenby Adams
At first, a gust of wind
Dying, then rising with increased intensity
Higher and higher, gathering strength and force
To lift my soul which grasps the hard unyielding soil
With grim tenacity
Now heightened to such awesome, huge proportions
And rushing closer with a noise like thunder,
The storm swoops low and in that age old battle,
My soul succumbs and now still trembling, fearful but expectant
And with the crashing of a loud crescendo
Lifts to the southeast sky.
Fly and be free mummy. We will love you and miss you forever.