Obituary of Lois Marion MacKenzie
MACKENZIE, Lois Marion
December 10, 1930-August 8, 2020
On a beautiful, sunny August day, our beloved Mom passed away to be with the love of her life, our Dad, Hugh Mackenzie. Mom’s passing was sudden and unexpected and all who loved her are left feeling the loss of her beautiful spirit. She was truly a blessing to all of us, the way she lived her life as a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and GG. She cultivated a life full of love and everlasting friendships and modelled this every day by her actions.
Mom was predeceased by her husband of 62 years, Hugh MacKenzie who passed away in 2018; parents William and Goldie Balfour; her brother Gordon; Hugh’s parents Alex and Emma MacKenzie; brothers-in-law Don and Jack MacKenzie and their wives Evelyn and Maxine.
Mom is survived by son Doug MacKenzie (Shelley); daughter Sue Burns (Terry); her pride and joy - eight wonderful grandchildren, Melanie (Ty), Brendan (Nicole), Preston (Marilyn), Josh (Moira), Brady (Preston), Jenna (Lance), Connor and Mack; great-grandchildren Lily and Ruby, Camden and Ethan, Hewitt and Goldie, Charlotte, and Wyatt; sisters-in-law, Yvonne MacKenzie and Lucy Balfour; and six very special nieces and nephews.
Lois Marion Balfour was born on December 10, 1930 at the Regina General Hospital. Her early years were fun and playful - full of family and love. Mom was a very proud member of the Balfour family. The Balfour family had a rich history in Regina. Mom’s grandfather James Balfour was a teacher, lawyer and mayor of Regina. Balfour High School is named after him and the Balfour Apartments are on the site of the family homestead. Mom always had endless stories of growing up at the Balfour Apartments with many wonderful aunts, uncles and cousins living in the apartment building.
Mom was an only child until at the age of 8 ½, when her brother Gordon William was born. They both attended Victoria Public School. She always said how much she loved school and her teachers but the highlight for her happened in kindergarten when she met her best friend, Jacquie Begg (Lamborn). It was the beginning of so many rich and rewarding friendships that she cherished.
Mom attended Central Collegiate and at the age of 17, graduated and was hired on by Sask Power. She had aspirations of pursuing nursing, as her mother did, but instead enrolled in a business course at Balfour Collegiate. This segued into a position at the Medical Arts Clinic where she worked as a medical secretary from 1950-1955.
It was at this point that Mom’s love of travel truly began taking part in two amazing and memorable girls’ trips. The first, a road trip in a stuffy, unairconditioned car to California. It was a long, hot 6,000 mile journey but created a million memories that would last a lifetime. The second, an impressive 4-month trip to Europe with best friends - Jacquie Lamborn and Gayle McLennan. These adventurous 21 year olds took a bus, a train and a boat on either side of this epic trip and the endeavor was even captured in an article in the Leader Post (1952).
The Wascana Winter Club held a special place in Mom’s heart. It was a social hub in Regina; many great, lasting friendships were created here but more importantly, where she met our dad, Hugh.
Mom and Dad were married on January 14, 1956 and the rest is history. Her life revolved around our family, the extended family and the many lifelong friends she made and kept in contact with. She was an expert at maintaining relationships with so many dear friends and family near and far. Time spent at the MacKenzie Art Gallery, golfing at Wascana Country Club, one of her many exercise classes or Thursday coffee with the girls; she loved to keep connected. Winters in Palm Desert, California where Mom and Dad enjoyed time spent with very dear friends from Regina and abroad. Summers were filled with great memories at Regina Beach.
Mom loved the beach and took great pride in creating a beautiful yard and cottage alongside Dad. She loved reading, gardening and entertaining, but even more so, she loved sitting with Dad on the deck at cocktail hour, listening to their favourite music and enjoying all that they had created. Our family is so fortunate and grateful to have been a part of the love and devotion they put into everyone and everything close to them.
Our Mom’s beautiful light will be sorely missed. She was caring and compassionate, outgoing and inviting, she was a shining example of how to live life with complete and utter grace, she loved life to the fullest and all the while put her family first. She taught us, by example, what’s important in life and for that we are all truly blessed.
Our family would like to thank the staff at Wintergreen Estates for the kindness and care they showed Mom this past year.
A private family celebration will take place in September and she and Dad will be Intered together at Regina Beach, Saskatchewan.
“Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near, so loved, so missed, so very dear.” Mom’s legacy will live on in each one of us!
