October 12, 1930- April 15, 2026
William Lorne Peter Otway passed away peacefully Tuesday, April 15, 2026, at age 95.
Lorne was born October 12, 1930, in Fort William, the youngest of four children. He had a happy childhood with fond memories of annual camping trips to Silver Islet and fishing with his father. He was the head altar boy at St. Patrick’s Cathedral where his father was the tenor soloist in the choir. The untimely death of his father when he was fourteen was a loss that stayed with him his entire life. He remained a devoted caretaker to his mother until her passing at age 103.
After graduating from St. Patrick’s High School, Lorne worked at the Steep Rock Iron mine in Atikokan in a number of capacities. He had a lifelong fascination with the massive mining machinery and loved to watch restoration videos reminding him of his time there. He eventually returned to the Lakehead where he met his love and future wife of 65 years, Norma Weir. Together they raised a family of four active children and worked very hard to provide them with as many opportunities as possible growing up.
Working the remainder of his career at Public Works Canada, he looked after construction and maintenance of Thunder Bay harbour. He liked to say that he had walked every foot of the breakwall. His job also involved travelling throughout Northwestern Ontario to ensure the safety of federal docks, wharves and waterways. This offered him unique insight into what it was like to live and work in some of the most remote areas of the province.
Over the years he and Norma enjoyed many good times with a close circle of friends from high school, as well as a large group of friends nicknamed the Motley Crew. There were countless parties and card games, as well as cross-country ski trips and Grey Cup adventures. These tightknit friendships endured for decades.
An avid curler (he curled well into his 80s as a member of the Port Arthur Curling Club), he decided upon retirement to take up golfing as well. Always understating his game and bemoaning his putting and chipping, he could still boast achieving a hole-in-one in the first few years of playing, much to the chagrin of his golfing partners. He was proud to have golfed on his 90th birthday.
He looked forward to annual trips to Florida during the winter and enjoyed travels to the Caribbean and Europe. A longtime member of the Corpus Christi parish, he and Norma volunteered for many years with the St. Vincent de Paul Society delivering hampers to needy families. Above all, he was happiest spending time with his family, tending to his garden and maintaining his home of 63 years.
Lorne is predeceased by his parents (William and Isabel Otway) and sisters (Dorothy Otway, Isabelle de Pfyffer, Marjorie Unger) and nephew Michael de Pfyffer. He is survived by his wife Norma; children Robert, Richard, Barbara Martineau (Charles) and Linda Colvin (Gerald); grandchildren Christopher and Claire Martineau, and Mitchell, Gregory and Alexander Colvin; nephews John, James and Joel de Pfyffer and Bill Unger.
A Funeral Mass will be held Friday, May 8, 10:30 am at Corpus Christi Church, celebrated by Father Terry Sawchuk, with visitation prior to the service.
The family would like to thank the emergency room staff of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre for their compassionate care and support. Donations in Lorne’s memory would be appreciated to a charity of your choice. On-line condolences can be made at www.sargentandson.com.
