1964-2026
After a long and courageous two-year battle with cancer, we said goodbye to our Lori. Surrounded by her family the passing of Lori Dawn Dwyer, wife of Cal Dwyer occurred at her residence on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. She was born on November 20, 1964 in Blacks Harbour. Survived by her Mother, Joanne Acton (late Step-Father John Ellsworth) and predeceased by her Father, Gerald Acton. Lori worked for many years as a Financial Manager in both the Banking and Automotive Industries. Even in the hardest fight of her life, she carried the same strength, stubborn spark, and sense of humour that defined her.
Lori wasn’t just part of the party, she was the party. She was happy-go-lucky, magnetic, and endlessly social. She could strike up a conversation with anyone and somehow leave them feeling like an old friend.
She had a serious love for travel, especially anywhere warm and tropical. White sandy beaches, palm trees swaying in the breeze, and a good rum in hand was her kind of paradise. She loved to swim; making party trains with floaties and swimming too far out in the ocean, making everyone nervously scan the water for sharks while she smiled and waved back at us. She loved to spend her Winter months at her house in Florida.
Summers were for camping, or more accurately, glamping. Lori & Cal’s trailer deck oasis (complete with palm trees) became a hub of laughter and late nights. Her camping crew weren’t just friends, they were family. Cornhole tournaments, golf cart adventures, crib games, endless deck gatherings and karaoke nights filled some of Lori’s happiest weekends. If she got a hold of the mic, she would sing ‘coal miner’s daughter’ at the top of her lungs. She loved a good time and her laugh could be heard a mile away.
Lori was a card shark in every sense, teaching her daughters early how to play a fierce game of 31. Her buddies never stood a chance against her at their poker nights. Casino trips with Cal, her Mom & John, vacation getaways with Terry & Angela, roadtrips with Lorissa & Chelsey, and couch cuddles with her puppies were some of her favorite pastimes. Lori loved her family; her husband was her rock, her mother her best friend, her brother her favourite comedian, and her 3 daughters were her proudest accomplishments. You’d often hear her say her grandsons were the light of her life.
Lori leaves behind a space that can never be filled. The world seems dimmer without her sparkle, quieter without her laugh, and different in a way no words can explain. Losing her is unbearable and our lives will never be the same. We hope you can all find a sense of peace knowing she is no longer suffering, and that she fought as hard as she did for all of us.
We will picture her now being somewhere with her toes in the sand, music playing and cards in hand, surrounded by her loved ones who were waiting for her to join them.
We love you, Wee-Nut. Whenever we see purple, we will think of you.
Lori is survived by her brother Terry Acton (Angela) of St. Stephen; daughters: Lorissa Leavitt (Ryan) of Breadalbane, Chelsey Hatt (Xan) of Bloomfield, and Becky Hartford (Thomas) of St. Andrews; nephew, Travis (Elyse) of Fredericton; grandsons: Aiden, Jett, Theodore, and Lucas; her fur babies: Pepper and Raffi; mother-in-law, Louise Dwyer; and lots of cousins and many great friends.
Lori’s family would like to thank Dr. Hameed, the Nurses and Staff of the Extra-Mural Program, the Oncology units at SJRH & CCH, and the Charlotte County Cancer Society for their caring and support during our difficult time. Your kindness will never be forgotten.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 21 River Street, St. Stephen, NB on Feb. 28 from 2-5pm. Visitors are asked to park in the back parking lot and look for directional signage.
Arrangements in the care of the St. George Funeral Home (755-3533) 26 Portage Street, St. George. The interment will be held in the Pennfield Rural Cemetery at a later date. In her memory, donations to Charlotte County Cancer would be appreciated by the family. Her loving and giving soul has touched all who knew her, she will be sadly missed.