Obituary for Lorraine Fell
Lorraine (Elliott) Fell passed away peacefully at Hospice North Hastings on Monday,
October 17th, 2022 at the age of 86. Lorraine Fell, beloved spouse of the late Norm
Maxwell, loving mother of Karen (& Gord) of Huntsville, Julia (& Robert) of San
Francisco and Glenn (& Barb) of Peterborough, stepmother of Kim (& Wayne) of
Bancroft, cherished grandmother of Jenna (& Luis) and Julia and great grandmother of
Max and Kialan and step grandmother of Melissa (& Andrew) and Sara (& Charles) and
step great grandmother of Jasper, Sophia and Stella.
Lorraine was born in Montreal, Quebec and grew up in the Maisonneuve area, where
she was a member of the first graduating class of Rosemount High in 1953. Lorraine
was the writer and editor of her school newspaper, “The Voice”, showing an early talent
for writing. Lorraine’s father called her, “Old Determined” and that moniker proved to be
very apt throughout her entire life.
Upon her marriage to Thomas Reid Fell in 1955, Lorraine was introduced to Baptiste
Lake and the wonderful celebrations of the extended Reid family which included music
and dancing. Lorraine was a talented singer and she participated with gusto, like she
did with everything. In those initial years she formed a special bond with Jean and Grant
Gordon who had the cottage beside ours. Grant played the fiddle at the family
gatherings. She loved to sing with him and he’d always play a few tunes with her
saying, “we’re now going to play this one in the Key of Lorraine”.
In 1972 she was happy to move to Bancroft and make it her permanent home,
becoming co-owner of Bancroft Sport & Marine with her late former husband. Lorraine
loved the theatre and in the mid-1970’s, she was instrumental in resurrecting the
Bancroft Theatre Guild. In their first production, she took on a character role in Which
Witch is Which and continued to participate as an actor and supporter of community
theatre for many years.
She met her match in 1984 with Norm Maxwell. He gave her the support, comfort and
humour to grow and thrive. Their home on Marina Road at Baptiste Lake became their
“happy place” and they loved taking boat rides at sunset. Going out, she often asked,
“How do I look?” and he would say Supergobflobulous, forever making her smile. One
time he told her, “I’ve named the boat after you”, “After me,” she cried and ran down to
the dock to look. Sure enough the boat was named “After You.”
She developed an avid interest in politics, reporting on council meetings for the Bancroft
Times and eventually serving as councilwoman in Hastings Highlands for 15 years.
Lorraine returned to her early passion for writing, and in 1997 she wrote a series of
articles about the first cottages on Baptiste Lake called “Edenswold Revisited” and in
2014 wrote and published “No Longer on the Run” the untold story of Andy Kilschenko,
a young Ukranian in the Soviet Secret Service. Over the years she continued to
compose many articles and wrote a weekly column in local newspapers.
She loved people, music, and dancing, and enjoyed many social community activities
from curling, to playing shuffleboard at the Legion, going to the dances in Maynooth,
and being a part of the “Lunch Bunch” with her cherished friends.
Lorraine was a master bridge player; never turning down a bridge game, she played
with friends into the wee hours of the night including playing in Duplicate Bridge
Tournaments in Belleville.
Her commitment to the betterment of this area was also revealed in 2005 when she was
involved in the Launch of the Family Health Team for Bancroft, a community partnership
of the Bancroft Family Health Group and the North Hastings Community Clinic.
No matter what she did, she did it while fashionably dressed, with Joie de vivre, with
drive and determination, always reflecting her personal style.
An independent, outspoken yet respectful and classy personna will live on as Lorraine’s
legacy. She is once again re-united with her beloved Norm.
October 17th, 2022 at the age of 86. Lorraine Fell, beloved spouse of the late Norm
Maxwell, loving mother of Karen (& Gord) of Huntsville, Julia (& Robert) of San
Francisco and Glenn (& Barb) of Peterborough, stepmother of Kim (& Wayne) of
Bancroft, cherished grandmother of Jenna (& Luis) and Julia and great grandmother of
Max and Kialan and step grandmother of Melissa (& Andrew) and Sara (& Charles) and
step great grandmother of Jasper, Sophia and Stella.
Lorraine was born in Montreal, Quebec and grew up in the Maisonneuve area, where
she was a member of the first graduating class of Rosemount High in 1953. Lorraine
was the writer and editor of her school newspaper, “The Voice”, showing an early talent
for writing. Lorraine’s father called her, “Old Determined” and that moniker proved to be
very apt throughout her entire life.
Upon her marriage to Thomas Reid Fell in 1955, Lorraine was introduced to Baptiste
Lake and the wonderful celebrations of the extended Reid family which included music
and dancing. Lorraine was a talented singer and she participated with gusto, like she
did with everything. In those initial years she formed a special bond with Jean and Grant
Gordon who had the cottage beside ours. Grant played the fiddle at the family
gatherings. She loved to sing with him and he’d always play a few tunes with her
saying, “we’re now going to play this one in the Key of Lorraine”.
In 1972 she was happy to move to Bancroft and make it her permanent home,
becoming co-owner of Bancroft Sport & Marine with her late former husband. Lorraine
loved the theatre and in the mid-1970’s, she was instrumental in resurrecting the
Bancroft Theatre Guild. In their first production, she took on a character role in Which
Witch is Which and continued to participate as an actor and supporter of community
theatre for many years.
She met her match in 1984 with Norm Maxwell. He gave her the support, comfort and
humour to grow and thrive. Their home on Marina Road at Baptiste Lake became their
“happy place” and they loved taking boat rides at sunset. Going out, she often asked,
“How do I look?” and he would say Supergobflobulous, forever making her smile. One
time he told her, “I’ve named the boat after you”, “After me,” she cried and ran down to
the dock to look. Sure enough the boat was named “After You.”
She developed an avid interest in politics, reporting on council meetings for the Bancroft
Times and eventually serving as councilwoman in Hastings Highlands for 15 years.
Lorraine returned to her early passion for writing, and in 1997 she wrote a series of
articles about the first cottages on Baptiste Lake called “Edenswold Revisited” and in
2014 wrote and published “No Longer on the Run” the untold story of Andy Kilschenko,
a young Ukranian in the Soviet Secret Service. Over the years she continued to
compose many articles and wrote a weekly column in local newspapers.
She loved people, music, and dancing, and enjoyed many social community activities
from curling, to playing shuffleboard at the Legion, going to the dances in Maynooth,
and being a part of the “Lunch Bunch” with her cherished friends.
Lorraine was a master bridge player; never turning down a bridge game, she played
with friends into the wee hours of the night including playing in Duplicate Bridge
Tournaments in Belleville.
Her commitment to the betterment of this area was also revealed in 2005 when she was
involved in the Launch of the Family Health Team for Bancroft, a community partnership
of the Bancroft Family Health Group and the North Hastings Community Clinic.
No matter what she did, she did it while fashionably dressed, with Joie de vivre, with
drive and determination, always reflecting her personal style.
An independent, outspoken yet respectful and classy personna will live on as Lorraine’s
legacy. She is once again re-united with her beloved Norm.