Lorna Fogg, pictured above, is being remembered by colleagues as a team leader who was dedicated to residents and staff members at Manitoulin Lodge.
Lorna Fogg remembered as a caring team leader
Former Manitoulin Lodge administrator was dedicated to residents and staff, say colleagues
Friday January 8, 2010 -- Deron Hamel
Lorna Fogg’s colleagues at Manitoulin Lodge are remembering her as a team leader who cared immensely for residents and staff members.

Fogg and the home’s director of care Maureen Armstrong were involved in a car crash Dec. 13 on Manitoulin Island. Fogg, 61, died from her injuries the next day. Armstrong remains in hospital in Greater Sudbury.

“She was a very caring person — she cared for the residents as well as the staff and she was always looking out for (everyone),” says Gloria Hall, the Gore Bay long-term care home’s activity director.

“There was never anything she would ask of the staff that she wouldn’t do herself.”

Fogg served as administrator at the Jarlette Health Services-owned home since 2006. Outside of work, Hall remembers Fogg as someone who loved Manitoulin Island’s outdoor atmosphere and who enjoyed ice fishing. She cherished family traditions and loved spending time with her dogs, Hall adds.

Coping with tragedy is always challenging but dealing with a loss of this magnitude during the holiday season was even more difficult, says Debbie Wright, Manitoulin Lodge’s acting administrator.

Staff members were devastated by news of the tragedy. The home is offering grief counselling to staff members to help them cope with the loss.

Residents have also found it difficult to deal with the tragedy.

“They took it hard, and you could really tell what she meant to each of the residents,” says Wright.

Most importantly is the fact that staff members have been supporting each other throughout this ordeal, says Wright.

“The thing that was most beneficial to the staff is the fact that we were there for them; we were there for each other,” Wright says.

“(Throughout) those two weeks we looked after each other and at that time I think that was the most important thing. That was the only way we could get through this as a team.

“And that’s what Lorna would have wanted.”

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