Lenore Colosimo, nee Price, was born on August 31st, 1938 and died on May 5th, 2026. She was born, raised and lived her entire life in Thunder Bay. Lenore had one brother, Alan, who predeceased her, as did her parents Victor and Hazel Price.
Earlier this year, Lenore received a devastating diagnosis; she had late stage cancer that was untreatable. In her characteristic way she dealt with this news stoically and with grace saying, “I’ve had a wonderful life and it is what it is”. She and Jim, her husband and soulmate for the past 65 years, set about to prepare for the inevitable. They moved from their condo into the Walford Residents, assisted by their three children Mark (Giselle), Shelly (Scott) and Tracy (Tom). As Lenore’s pain surged and quality of life diminished she and Jim with the support of their family, sought the assistance to arrange for MAID.
As a young woman Lenore worked for Lake Shippers and continued to work there until she and Jim started their family. Even though Lenore was a busy mom with three babies arriving in short order, she still made time for volunteer work. She worked for the Christmas Cheer Fund and Meals on Wheels, though her biggest commitment was the Girl Guides of Canada.
Lenore started out at Brownies when she was seven years old and “flew up” to the Girl Guides when she was 10. She and her friend, Diane Silver, were the first guides in Thunder Bay to receive the Gold Cord which is the highest achievement in Guiding. That was not the end for Lenore, in fact, it was the beginning of three more decades of volunteer leadership with Girl Guides. At first she was a group leader and also worked as a counselor at Polly Lake summer camp. She took her three kids to camp with her and recruited Jim to help with camp maintenance chores. It was a family affair. Overtime, Lenore took on more responsibility and was eventually appointed Madame Commission for Northwestern Ontario. She spoke fondly and often of the people she met and the good times she enjoyed as a leader. It was an important chapter in her life.
In 1972, Lenore and Jim moved the family from Port Arthur to Fort William, to a newly built subdivision, Confederation Drive. This was the start of long-lasting friendships, fondly known as the “golf-girls”, a close-knit community and several social gatherings.
Lenore and Jim loved their camper trailer which provided several years of fun for their family. They camped along the north shore west to Atikokan Fort Frances and sometimes parked the trailer for extended periods at Shebandowan. While Jim would work at his insurance business Lenore and the kids would enjoy the outdoors at the various campgrounds.
The next chapter for the Colosimo family was camp life. In the 1980s, Jim and Lenore bought a camp at One Island Lake. It was Lenore’s little bit of paradise and it quickly became a gathering place for family and friends. Lenore swam across the bay and back every day and used the sauna frequently. Canada Day parties were memorable events enjoyed by friends who played bocci and croquet before feasting on roast beef and ribs cooked on the smoker. But the highlights of Jim and Lenore’s summers were when the grandkids visited. Conor, Cameron, Braden and Cara travelled from southern Ontario and they were joined by their Thunder Bay cousins Andrew and Olivia. Swimming, water skiing, turtle catching, bonfires and adventure outings, were all part of the fun times at camp. Jim and Lenore had their hands full with six kids but Lenore was a firm but fair disciplinarian, affectionately known as “No Nonsense Grandma”. All of those years as a guide leader stood her in good stead.
In recent years, Lenore and Jim became great grandparents and Lenore got a new designation. She was renamed, Grandma-the-Great. Cara (Tyler) and their daughters, Addelynn, Blakely and Camryn; Braden (Sarah), and their children, Blaize, Maeva; Sarah (Andrew) and their children, Emmerson, Charlotte, Amanda (Steve) and their daughter Enna and Olivia (Mike) recently had a son Leo. Jim and Lenore traveled to southern Ontario regularly to become acquainted with the latest generation of Colosimo’s.
Over the years, Jim and Lenore travelled extensively. They spent two winters in Australia visited England, Italy, Hong Kong, as well as several Caribbean islands. For the past couple of decades, they enjoyed winters in Florida and Arizona. Florida was Lenore’s favourite as she loved the water. One of her best memories is walking down the beach to yoga class followed by a swim in the golf at Venice beach. They continued to ride their bikes, play golf, tennis and pickleball. Being physically active was essential to Jim and Lenore’s lifestyle, and by example, they passed these healthy habits along to everyone in the family.
Lenore will be missed. She leaves behind a legacy of kindness, quiet strength and a life well lived. Those who knew her will carry her memory forward in stories of good times shared, lessons learned, and the fine example she set for all she encountered along the way.
Rest in peace.
A private family funeral will be held. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Northern Cancer Society and The Arthritis Society.
Condolences may be made through www.nwfainc.com
