The family of a beloved local journalist is asking for the community’s help following her sudden passing last month.
Lori Penner, a long-time writer for the Altona Rhineland Morris Voice, the Winkler Morden Voice, and previously the Altona Red River Valley Echo, died June 25 at Boundary Trails Health Centre after suffering a stroke days earlier. She was 59.
Known for her compassionate storytelling and deep connection to the people of southern Manitoba, Penner built a career out of capturing the heart of small-town life. Her writing earned her respect across the region’s newsrooms and communities.
“She believed even the quietest corners of a town held stories worth telling,” her family wrote. “She poured her heart into every article she wrote.”
Penner was also a devoted mother to six children, a grandmother of four, and a cherished partner to Richie, her longtime companion.
In the wake of her death, the family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral costs and travel expenses so her loved ones from across Canada can attend the service and say goodbye.
“We were unprepared for the costs that come with saying goodbye,” the family said. “Any support—financial or by sharing—means the world to us.”
The fundraiser is available at: www.gofundme.com/f/support-loris-family (or insert the actual link if available).
