Lingan Road
It is with profound sadness that we, the family of Raylene Lewis, age 68, announce her passing after her battle with cancer. She passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday, January 25, 2025, in the palliative care unit of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital, Sydney.
Born in Sydney on July 20, 1956, Raylene was the daughter of William and Ruth Blackwood.
Raylene worked for several retail stores in her life including Shoppers, Islands, Rickies-Bootlegger, and ran her own store Open Roads Novelty for several years. She also supported the ride for sight charity for 26 years raising funds to help fight blindness.
We were so blessed to have her in our lives even if her 68 years don’t seem near long enough. Her most important role in life was the one of wife to husband of 51 years, Ernest Lewis, devoted mother, beloved daughter, and the central figure in the lives of her grandkids. She was the anchor that held the family together, feisty and fearless always there to support them. She loved to enjoy time spent with friends and her husband attending rallies and enjoying the open road on their motorcycles.
Raylene is predeceased by her brother, Sandy Blackwood; close friend, Bruce Calder; in-laws, Merle and Emmeline Lewis, and her maternal grandparents, John ‘Jack’ and Anne Madower.
Besides her parents she is survived by her husband, Ernest Lewis; son, Brad Lewis (Erin Gould); daughter, Natasha (Steve) Doherty; grandson, Zack (of whom she played the role of both a mother and grandmother to); Zack’s partner, Hailey; grandson, Dawston and his fiancé, Hannah; grandsons, Matthew, Ryan, Alex, Austin, and Riley; granddaughters, Ocean and Halle; sister, Lynn (Alain) Bourgeois and brother, William ‘Bill’ Blackwood.
Visitation for the late Raylene Lewis will be held at the Pier Community Funeral Home, Whitney Pier, 1092 Victoria Rd. (entrance on Church Street) from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. on Saturday, February 1, 2025. A celebration of Raylene’s life will be held in the funeral home, All Faith Chapel, Whitney Pier on Sunday, February 2, 2025, at 2 p.m. with Fr. Paul Murphy officiating. Interment will take place at a later date.
Donations in memory of Raylene may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care and direction of Pier Community Funeral Home.
Online Condolences
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Sending my deepest sympathy 💐to the Blackwood & Lewis families.
This is so very heartbreaking.. Ernest and Raylene r 2 of the sweetest people I had the privilege of knowing …I pray Uvwere welcomed with opened arms .. Give Bruce a big for me and tell him how much he is missed ..God Bless U Raylene … Sincere condolences o her family and friends
Ernie and family,so saddened to hear of the passing of Raylene. May she rest in peace
Ernie my deepest condolences I never seen you guys in a while but concerned you both good friends I’m very sorry to read this RIP3
Sincerest condolences to the family of Raylene. We met she and Lewis through the Ride for Sightany years ago. She was a delightful, hard working woman. May she now rest in peace.
We are so very sorry for your loss , sincere condolences to the family
Peter & Judy Calder
Our deepest condolences to all the family. May she R I P. Love Fred & Iris Madower.