Obituary of Lorrie Bell Hawkins

It is with “a sadness too sad to be true” that the family of Lorrie Bell Hawkins announces her recent passing. 

Lorrie was born in Montreal, in 1952, to Lorne and JoAnne Bell (Innes). 

Lorrie was a kind, gentle, caring and generous soul, a creative spirit, a quiet philanthropist. As well, she was a weaver, a silversmith, and a proficient gardener and an art collector. She was also a horse whisperer, and a dog and cat whisperer. Her love for animals of every sort ran deep, she just understood them and cared for them. She is very much missed by Ollie and Minou.

Lorrie was also a writer. She wrote many short stories and authored, illustrated and published a number of somewhat whimsical books including a popular, heart-warming cookbook outlining 50 of her mother’s top recipes - “Nutty Green Beans” and a chapbook titled “Rabbit Dreams”. Her signature book however was a hard covered title - “Jolicure Cats”. Professionally designed, illustrated and published it featured commissioned oil paintings of her family’s cats over 5 decades and went on to win a couple of top awards in the U.S.A. 

She was married to David Hawkins. The couple met in the old basement bookstore at Mount Allison University in the fall of 1974 and have been together since 1976. They were married January 1,1979 - “a huge, wild, blizzard of a day” - way out on the Tantramar Marsh at the Jolicure United Church along the High Marsh Road outside of Sackville, New Brunswick close to where they lived with their beloved animals.

They had both gone to Beaconsfield High, in a Montreal suburb, during the 60s and had that experience in common along with a remarkably common set of values. In most other respects, they appeared like polar opposites but they somehow had a deep friendship and spent 47 wonderful years totally together on all fronts. It was a huge blessing and they both knew it. They were grateful for this love, mutual respect and commitment every day. 

She was also the loving and supportive step-mother to David’s three beautiful daughters over the decades - Britt (Neil Dixon), Erin (Jon Augspurger), Michelle and step-grandmother to Grace Augspurger. 

She was sister to Holly Bell, and Brian Bell (Carmen Connolly); aunt to Natasha Bell (Jean Hébert), Lekas Bell (Shannon MacDougall), Ashley Faddoul (John), Jacob Lekas (Sophia Allen-Rice); and great-aunt to Aiden and Ella Faddoul, Ziggy and Jovie Bell, and Harrison Gordon.

Over the years, Lorrie and David co-founded a number of successful businesses together primarily in the field of marketing and communications - the most successful was Hawk Communications which they sold at its peak in 2001. They were business partners in these ventures and Lorrie always played a quiet but very effective, vital role, out of the limelight, with her signature grace and humility.

The couple travelled extensively over the years to different countries and continents. They especially loved the southwest of the USA where they trekked many mountains and trails together and often with their children. Their major trekking achievement was in 2000 when they summited Mt. Whitney - the highest peak in the contiguous United States, at just under 15,000 ft. - after three attempts in three different years. The first two attempts met with altitude sickness at exactly the same spot - 13,200 ft. “It was a long way up for two people who live at sea level and have desk jobs,” said Lorrie at the time. But, they finally figured out how to make it to the summit on the third attempt, and back down, in a very long single day. They also did two rim-to-rim treks across the Grand Canyon in 100F+ heat - the first in a very long single day once again. They thought it was trés arduous, but fun. 

The last three years were quite the challenge but Lorrie remained at home the whole time - steadfast in her faith, positive and hopeful - with David, her sister Holly, Minou and Ollie right by her side.

We are especially thankful for the loving kindness of her niece Natasha, her childhood friend Janet York of Toronto, and her friends Thaddeus Holownia, Ghislaine Friesen, Christine Hatheway and Monica Plant whose thoughtful visits lifted her spirits considerably. As well, we are grateful for the numerous visits of many Extra-Mural nurses whose remarkable kind, caring, loving, gentle and professional ways were always timely, helpful and most welcome. 

A private celebration of life gathering for Lorrie was held on Monday afternoon, July 24th at the Jolicure Cemetery according to her wishes. It was a warm, sunny day with a gentle breeze filled with love and the sweet fragrances of a summer day’s salt marsh.

Donations on her behalf may be made online directly to The Nature Conservancy of Canada at https://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/what-you-can-do/donate/  and/or to the Atlantic Wildlife Institute at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/3701?v2=true or through Campbell’s Funeral Home, Sackville, New Brunswick at www.campbellsfuneralhome.com

On-line condolences and sharing of memories may be forwarded to the family through our website www.campbellsfuneralhome.com or by visiting the funeral home Facebook page.