Pottie, Lorraine Lena (Laing) – age 85 of Oakfield, passed away after a brief battle with pneumonia on August 7, 2025 with both daughters by her side. Born in Sherbrooke NS, she was a daughter of the late Edith (Cook) and John Laing.
Edith passed away when Mom was two during which time her father was in a POW camp in Hong Kong. Her grandmother, Bertha Cook insisted the children (five, under the age of seven) not be separated and she along with her husband, Walter took them in as their own. She was raised with them alongside many aunts and uncles. Her Aunt Marion Jordon lived next door and played a big part in the children’s upbringing.
At seventeen Mom moved to Halifax to work. She spent her early years working at The Halifax Pathology Lab, and The NS Teacher’s Union. Later she was a printing press operator at Nova Scotia Light and Power where she met and married our father, Gerald Edward Pottie. They built a home together in Oakfield on Grand Lake and raised their two daughters.
Mom enjoyed gardening, walking in nature, baking, reading, sewing, knitting and playing cards. She donated over 100 preemie outfits to the IWK for which she was awarded. She volunteered for numerous community events and most recently with The Ubuntu Grannies.
She loved antiques, auctions and in later years finding that perfect item at local thrift stores. A puzzle was usually found on her table and if you didn’t work on that during a visit then a good game of cards was in order. Reading was a love she passed on to us and the quest for knowledge and asking why. There was nothing that she wouldn’t try to do herself and should we say she shouldn’t be doing something, well she had no trouble telling us that she was more than capable.
She was the very definition of mom and family to her was everything. Her love for children started early with young cousins and her nieces and nephews. Unable to pronounce Lorraine, the name Rannie was born and a name which she would be affectionately know by many children including her great-grandchildren, Riley and Rory.
She is survived by her children, Tammy Pottie and Lorrie Anne (Brian) Foley; grandchildren, Alycia Pottie (Zack Thomson) and Amber; and great-grandchildren, Riley and Rory.
Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Gerald; sisters, Lillian and Lorna; and brothers, Lloyd and Jackie.
Cremation has taken place under the care and direction of Arimathea Funeral Cooperative, Upper Musquodoboit. As per Moms wishes she did not want a funeral. Mom and Dad will be laid to rest in Sherbrooke with her mom.
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