Lynn's life journey began in Calgary, Alberta with parents Madeleine and George Keeling. Brother, Gerry, arrived 1 1/2 years later. When 6, the family made their only move - to a bigger house 2 blocks away - with the kids helpfully hauling belongings down the alley in their little red wagon. Lynn attended Kensington Road Elementary school for grades 1 - 8. There she was in the school choir - as a needed body, but told not to let any sound out of her mouth. She went to Brownies where she earned many badges and went on camping trips and had rabbit stew. A week after starting grades 9 - 12 at Queen Elizabeth Jr/Sr High School, she was home sick with Chicken Pox for 3 weeks. During these years, Lynn joined the girls curling club at school and was a member of the credit unions curling team with her parents. On a sleep over in Cochrane, at her friend Donalee's (who had the measles at the time) Lynn tripped in a gopher hole while chasing a kite. Donalee, the future nurse, rubbed her swollen ankle every hour with 'horse linament'. Three months later, x-rays confirmed there was a broken bone in the ankle, which was eventually operated on.
After high school, Lynn and Donalee ventured out together. First moving to Banff where they worked in the bakery and were grateful for the 'care packages' from home. October found them hitchhiking to Vancouver. December found them back home for Christmas. Then, on her own, Lynn returned to Vancouver, the city she would return to again and again throughout her lifetime.
Lynn has lived in Calgary, Banff, Vancouver, Toronto, Vancouver, Squamish, Port Alice, Calgary, Toronto, Quesnel and Vancouver. A far cry from her childhood life. Her journey included working at many jobs, finally leading her to Market Research work.
In 1970, she became Mrs. Walter Sobistiansky for 2 years. It was during this time that she met couples like Fred & Joan and Ron & Natasha. Over the years they would find Lynn reappearing in their lives as Lynn & Alan and finally as Lynn & Ralph.
Willingness to learn and grow led Lynn to many classes, workshops, courses, groups - as either the student or as the facilitator. Among them were reflexology, psychic healing, leatherwork, macrame, exercise, yoga, meditation, Unity, co-dependency, Tai Chi, exercise and most resently Therapeutic Touch and Cranialsacral Therapy.
September 1992, the journey led to the Vancouver Cancer Clinic for radiation treatment. There, Lynn found the clinics relaxation support group, art and music therapists and Therapeutic Touch workshops. Her dream come true - alternative therapies in a medical institute. Lynn spent many years helping with the relaxation group, touching and being touched by the lives of many people. Over the years she facilitated workshops in communities around the country on relaxation groups and Therapeutic Touch. Many of these while she was traveling and camping with Ralph.
Lynn died peacefully at home in her sleep of old age after a long and fruitful life. She will be missed by the many friends she left behind and welcomed by all those that went on before her.
March 1997
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