Romeo "Don" Giroux

It is with profound sadness, but also with immense gratitude for a life so deeply lived and so generously shared, that we announce the passing of Romeo Donald Giroux on Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at the age of 79.

Don was the beloved husband and soulmate of Rita (née Houle). Proud and much loved father of Yvon and his wife Lisa, Charlene and her husband Jeff and Don and his wife Laureen “Maru”. Grandfather of 5 and great grandfather of 5.

For more than 57 years of marriage, Don cherished his beloved wife. Their life together was built not only on devotion and commitment, but on the little romantic gestures that made their love so special. He never stopped finding ways to show her that she was loved. After more than five decades together, Don still knew that love is found in the everyday moments; in thoughtful gestures, a helping hand, a familiar smile, a little surprise, and simply being there. His love was not merely spoken; it was demonstrated, year after year, in the life they built together.

Raised on a farm, Don learned from an early age what it meant to work hard and take pride in a job well done. He loved his chores and would happily do his part before and after school. Those early lessons stayed with him throughout his life: show up, do your best, lend a hand, and never be afraid of hard work.

Don was a hardworking family man with a heart of gold and strong hands; hands that spent a lifetime building, fixing, tending, helping, and providing. He believed in the dignity of hard work, the importance of keeping his word, and, above all else, putting his family first. Don was truly a jack of all trades, with a remarkable ability to figure things out. Whether something needed fixing, building, repairing, moving, or simply getting done, he was the person people could count on. He had a practical mind, capable hands, and a determination that rarely allowed him to say, “I can't.”

Life also taught Don that not everything goes according to plan. Sometimes circumstances force us to change direction, to pivot, and to begin again. He learned those lessons the hard way, but he met them with resilience. He understood that you cannot always choose what life puts in front of you; you can choose how you respond to it. And he chose to make the best of it, always finding a way forward and always keeping his family at the centre of his decisions.

Don had an incredible sense of humour. A gift for finding the funny side of things, bringing laughter into a room, and making people smile when they needed it most. His humour will remain in the stories his family tells, the memories that make them laugh through their tears, and the countless moments when they can almost hear him delivering one of his familiar jokes or witty remarks.

Don’s family find comfort in imagining him reunited with his precious Ollie, the family dog who held such a special place in his heart. Perhaps Ollie was waiting for him, tail wagging, ready to welcome him into Heaven. And while Willow remains here with the family, she will never forget him either. The love between a person and the animals who become part of the family leaves a mark that time cannot erase.

Close to his heart, Don carried a pendant of Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travellers and those who journey. Saint Christopher is traditionally associated with protecting people on their journeys and helping them safely reach their destination. There is something especially fitting about that symbol for a man who spent his life helping the people he loved find their way.

Don leaves behind far more than memories. He leaves behind lessons in perseverance, devotion, humour, loyalty, and love. He showed those around him that a good life is not necessarily measured by grand accomplishments, but by the lives we touch, the work we do with our hands, the laughter we share, and the people we choose to love every day.

The family would also like to express their deepest and most heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate healthcare team at Brantford General Hospital, especially the CCU on the 5th floor, and the ICU team at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton.

Though his hands are now at rest, everything those hands built remains, in the home, in the memories, in the laughter, in the lessons he taught, and most of all, in the hearts of those who loved him.

Don’s wishes were for cremation, and those wishes are being lovingly honoured.

Memorial donations to Mark Preece House would be appreciated by the family.

Fond memories, special photographs and messages of condolence can be shared online at www.cresmountfennellchapel.com.