Evelyn “Lorraine”‘s Obituary
TOOLE (Rafuse), Evelyn “Lorraine” ~ Age 89, of Waterville, Kings Co., passed away on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, in Valley Regional Hospital, Kentville. Born in Waterville, on October 7, 1932, she was the youngest of four children born to the late Ard Donald and Jessie Eugenie (Salsman) Rafuse. Lorraine attended the Waterville School followed by Mack Business College, from where she graduated. Her first job following graduation was in the office at the Valley Creamery Limited, Kingston, where she met her future husband. Lorraine was also a legal secretary at Shaw & Waterbury Law Firm, Kentville. Following her marriage in 1953, she and her husband lived in Kingston for nine years, where she returned to work as a private secretary for Valley Creamery Limited. Lorraine had been a member of the Kingston United Baptist Church, where she was Sunday School superintendent, Sunday School teacher and choir member. She was also a past bookkeeper at R.A. Boates Furniture Store, Kingston.
Following the closure of Valley Creamery Limited, Lorraine and Burt moved to Waterville, where she was employed as the first ever secretary at the original Kings County Hospital, under the direction of Superintendent Bert Hiltz. She remained his private secretary when he became administrator at the new Kings County Hospital/Kings Regional Rehabilitation Centre, until such time as they opened a business office in the new facility. She was then transferred to the department in charge of personnel and payroll. Lorraine was employed at these two facilities for a total of 18 ½ years. She was clerk for Village Commission of Cornwallis Square for over 23 years.
Lorraine was then employed at Doane & Houghton Accounting Firm, Kentville, and was working there when her husband passed away in 1982. She became the first receptionist at the Nova Scotia Youth Centre when it was built in Waterville in 1988, from where she retired. Following her retirement, Lorraine loved to travel, and had become a volunteer hostess for Evangeline Charter Tours for 11 years and oversaw numerous bus tours. She enjoyed repeating funny jokes and this is how she kept the tour passengers entertained while travelling. They all respected and loved her very much and she made many lifelong friends. When Lorraine resigned, another volunteer host from Auburndale also resigned and together, they formed their own bus tour company as “Veinot & Toole Tours”. This continued operating for three years until her health forced her to discontinue. During this time, she suddenly suffered from Guillain-Barre Syndrome that paralyzed her entire body. Following 13 weeks as a patient in Valley Regional Hospital and Nova Scotia Rehabilitation Centre, determination and treatments led to her recovery. However, Lorraine’s health condition did not allow her to continue the bus tours.
She was a member and sang with Queens of Kings/Valley Voices Ladies Barbershop Chorus for over 30 years and was made an honourary life member. She also spent time as secretary, sunshine girl, and on other committees of the chorus. She was secretary/treasurer of Central Kings Crusaders (Berwick & area), for several years until it ceased to operate. Lorraine loved to knit, crochet, and do handcrafts. She loved her Lord and her church, and was a long-time member of Waterville Baptist Church, where she was treasurer, member of the finance committee, choir member, and was also secretary/treasurer of the Sharon Club for many years.
Surviving are her sister, Lillian and brother-in-law, Amos “Bud” Ewing; nieces, Sharon Ewing-Milne and Betty Rafuse-Lutz; nephews, Rev. Donald and Paul Rafuse; aunt, June Salsman. Besides her parents and grandparents, she was predeceased by her husband, Burton Stanford “Burt” Toole; brothers, Kenneth and Harold Rafuse; sisters-in-law, Eunice, Marguerite and Lena Rafuse; niece, Marla Rafuse; nephews, Stephen Rafuse and Larry Ewing; several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Due to current pandemic gathering restrictions, there will be no public visitation. A private funeral service, by invitation only, will take place in Waterville Baptist Church, with Pastor Christina Bigelow officiating. Interment in Berwick Cemetery, at a later date. Proof of ID and full vaccination, as well as masking and hand sanitizing, are required at all indoor and outdoor ceremonies. A live webcast of the service will be available for viewing on the funeral home website beginning at 1:55 p.m. AST, Wednesday, February 9, by selecting the “Live Stream” option at the top of the home page. Donations in her memory may be made to Waterville Baptist Church. Arrangements have been entrusted to Middleton Funeral Home, 398 Main Street, toll free 1-855-825-3448. Online guestbook may be signed by visiting: www.middletonfuneralhome.com
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Evelyn Lorraine Toole October 07 1932 February 02 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Middleton, Province: Nova Scotia