Her obituary (from https://vanu.ca/event/lynn-sabourin/):
It is with profound sadness that we share the news of our beloved Lynn’s sudden passing on August 16, 2025. Lynn leaves behind her husband of 54 years, Douglas; sons Ryan, Colin, and Derek; grandson Boston; Sister Nora, brother-in-law Dennis; Nieces Lisa and Lindsay; brother Michael; Great Aunt Rose, and numerous family members across several generations.
Lynn Sabourin (nee Hanberry) was born in North Vancouver on May 20 th , 1951, and was a proud and lifelong North Van resident, contributing to the local community in myriad ways. A graduate of Carson Graham Senior Secondary, Lynn went on to study education at SFU, determined to fulfill her ambition of becoming a teacher. Marriage to Doug happened in 1971 while they were starving students, and once established in their careers, home ownership and motherhood soon followed.
In the early 1980s, Lynn pivoted her career to becoming an interfaith religious education professional with the North Shore Unitarian Church, and it was there that she found her true calling and her life’s work. A fledgling congregation grew and grew, and Lynn was front and center as a leader of this development.
Lynn was passionately dedicated to her role as a mother; her 3 boys and her family were her pride and joy. She had a similar commitment to her role as a religious educator, evidenced by her various professional awards and recognitions. It is not hyperbole to say that she was an absolute legend within Unitarian Universalist circles in the Pacific Northwest, and this eventually led to her becoming a well-known figure across North America. Her loss has been felt far and wide, and the absence her loving and giving personality leaves behind will be impossible to fill.
Lynn is incredibly admired and loved by all her knew her. Her sudden passing has been profoundly felt by everyone in her life, and her family has been uplifted significantly from the messages and visits of love and support that have been pouring in from friends, family, and colleagues. Simply put, she was loved and inspired by everyone who ever knew her. She will be remembered for her dedication, passion, and her commitment to the happiness and betterment of every single individual in her life.
Her smile and warmth will live on in our memories and will certainly continue to inspire us to lead our lives with a similar positivity and joy. She loved her family and friends with an authenticity that was undeniably felt, because it was pure and unconditional. She was honest, heartfelt, and composed of the love and integrity that she knew was possible even in the tiniest details of the lives we all lead. Lynn absolutely loved life; Lynn was and is loved deeply.
Her light will shine on, and we are all taking our first steps in navigating a world without her. We love you, Lynn. We love you, Mom.
