Joe Lauzon

“The echoes of beauty you’ve seen transpire,

Resound through dying coals of a campfire”

Ernest Hemingway

I love this quote because through dad we have seen much beauty through literal and metaphorical “campfires!” I want to share today a story of transcendence, what glowing fires exist, because Joe Lauzon was a father , a hero, mentor, husband, grandfather, great -grandfather and a friend to us!

Our Dad Was A Builder!

Dad did literally teach us how to build a campfire. Starting with paper or bark, lighting a match to it , then adding the kindling and making sure there is a flame before adding the hardwood!

We have enjoyed so many campfires camping at Pancake Bay and later at Twin Cedars, our cottage. Through these fires we built family, stories, laughter, and connections, the stuff of life that is important, that warms your heart and transcends your spirit!

Our Dad Was A Builder!

He built a second story on our house on Fourth Line because the six kids didn’t fit in a two-bedroom house. He built outdoor barbeques and stone fireplaces. He cleared the land and built a cottage so his family had a gathering place to share his love of nature. We will forever remember Dad, snorkeling in Sand Bay, canoeing, hitting golf balls into the lake and of course…the fires…. a time to relax, reflect, and just love each other.

Our Dad Was A Builder!

There is a story of Popsicle sticks that Dad used to fix stuff!!!

Once when Matthew went for a hike at camp, he fell and sprained his finger. Dad the builder , made a splint from popsicles sticks and lord knows what else to mend the hurt and put a smile on Matthew’s face.

He also used Popsicle sticks to fix the back of his favourite slippers!!!! Oh how he loved those slippers and sent me to Bergman’s to repair them but to no avail!!!The repairman commented; “Thanks for the smile I have never seen anyone go to the lengths that your dad did to save those slippers. And by the way …Popsicle sticks make great kindling if you are building a campfire!!!”

Thanks Dad for building a fire of creativity, initiative and innovation in something like a simple Popsicle stick!!!!

Our Dad Was A Builder!

Dad built a love of learning new things in all of us. When I was young, before Internet and Wi-Fi, dad was taking correspondence courses, learning how to “build “on his vocabulary, how to draw and to paint, and how to be a carpenter. He found a way, a way to overcome challenges, go beyond adversity and get the job done.

At a young age, Dad developed Scarlet Fever and his mother was told that he wouldn’t have a long life!!!! So much for that! The disease meant he would not be accepted as a soldier to fight in WWII. I’m not sure how Dad got around this, but he did! From his service experience he “built” a love of Canada, love of democracy and freedom and continued in his life standing for Truth!

His love of Canada extended to Canadian sports heroes. From watching the Olympics , Baseball , Hockey and curling he was an avid Canadian fan!

His love of curling was amplified when Jacobs and team won the Gold and how he relished as the Blue Jays took the World Series. Twice!! I suffered along with Dad when the Jay’s wings were clipped these last few seasons.

In spite of my lack of interest in all sports, Dad “Built” in me, along with my mom, an excitement for watching the Blue Jays! Sunday afternoons at Mom and Dads’ became the “campfire” where we rejoiced or agonized over the outcome of every game!!! Thanks Dad for the gift!!!

Our Dad Was A Builder!

Dad Built connections with people. He reached out and had a genuine interest in who you were and what you were about. His absolute best connection was with my Mother. It all began when he convinced his mother to go with him to the grocery store where my Mom was working as a check out girl. He got the nerve to ask her out and well….the rest is history.

From Joe and Lena Lauzon’s Campfire,

they Built …..Six Children

myself, Peggy, David, Catherine, Joe and Dan

they Built …..Nine Grandchildren

Drew and Mandiy, Damien and Rejeanne, Dylan and Joe, Matthew, Lucas and Quynn!

they Built …..Seven Great-Grandchildren

Ava, Cohen and Gracy, Hunter, Jackson and Hope, and Cole!!

That’s twenty –two (22) gifts of beauty that have transpired from the embers of their love.

This is Transcendence

This is Hope

Hope to build more fires ,

Hope to seek new truths,

Hope to love more people,

Hope to experience more adventures,

And as always gratitude for Joe Lauzon because….

“ The echoes of beauty you’ve seen transpire,

Resound through dying coals of a campfire!”

Ernest Hemingway

Today we celebrate the life of Joseph Martin Lauzon, my Dad, World War II vet, husband and father.

He was born 21 Sep, 1922 so he was in his 97th year. He married my mother, Lena in May of 1947; they were married 71 years raising 6 children.

He served in the war with the queens own rifles. He was a sniper. He never talked about the war much. There was one time; we were at the algo club playing pool, russian billiards, that was his game, when we heard over the loud speaker I had a phone call. It was the Navy, letting me know that I had been accepted to join as a naval electrician. A couple months earlier I had applied, or should I say Dad applied for me, to join the forces. You see, one afternoon I came home from the tavern and told my dad I was thinking of joining the navy. Then I think I took a nap and forgot about it. Well about a week later, Dad had brochures and set it all up, he was driving me to Sudbury to join the navy. I didn’t know what had hit me. It was not until years later, when I had my own kids, sometimes you need a little push out of the nest. The navy said they didn’t need electricians, two year waiting list... wow that was a close call. Well two years turned into two months and I got the call at the algo club, Dad and I sat down for a beer and talked about his service, he talked about the good times. I had one more play, Dad was driving me to the airport to go to naval basic training and about half way there I said "Dad I forgot my wallet". He didn't get angry, luckily my plane didn't leave for another four hours, so we had time to go get it. He never let me forget about the "wallet".

Dad was funny, which I found surprising, because as a child I didn’t think he was funny. He was that Father figure, you know “wait til your Father gets home” type of guy. But as I got older his sense of humour shined, whether he was making speeches at wedding and anniversaries or talking to his barber, bank teller or nurse, he was always making people laugh. And he had it till the very end. One time the nurse was giving him a check-up and to begin she asked dad to remember three words, the continent Africa, the animal giraffe, and the colour blue as she would ask again at the end of the check up. Well about an hour later, the nurse asked if he remembered the three words and my dad said “Not sure what you’re talking about, but for some reason I’m thinking about the African blue giraffe”.

Dad liked to speak French, but not in the traditional sense. Every once in a while he would throw a phrase out there either to me or the nurse or whomever. When I was in military college, I had to take French everyday as speaking French was a requirement for being an officer. When I’d phone home, Dad didn’t ask how my engineering studies were going, he asked how my French was going and would throw me a few phrases which I seldom understood. The fact is, I never learned to speech French, I was so bad they just let me graduate as holding me back wouldn’t help. And to this day, I don’t know if my Dad could speak French.

Dad never embraced technology. Never had a computer, never surfed the internet, never sent an email....nothing. Dad was a smart man, he could build a cottage but couldn’t use a cell phone and believe me I tried. Speaking of cottages.....

He loved his cottage. If I had to pick one hobby he had, it would have been the cottage. He built it and always had a project on the go. He loved to work with cement which was evident from the beautiful stone fireplace that centered the cottage. But now I realize he did not just build a cottage…he built a place where his sons and daughters would grow up and play together and create lasting bonds – where stories were told and shared around camp fires, where games of bocce, lawn darts and card games were played, where long swims, canoeing, fishing, and barbecues all became family rituals defining who we would become– a place where those children would grow up and have children of their own and return to that cottage so that those bonds of love, would continue to grow and develop as our family did. It became a place where the Lauzons became well….the Lauzons.

My father was a man who commanded respect because he was a man who continually throughout his life created opportunities for us to find ourselves and each other – to become a family who loved each other deeply. And he always met strangers with the warmest smile and the kindest words and well, a witty joke or two….he treated others as he wanted to be treated. We are certainly sorry to see him go but damn lucky we had him as long as we did. And his wife, my mother is a saint and my father was the luckiest man in the world to have her but can think of no other man who deserved her more.

LAUZON, Joseph Martin - On Wednesday, November 14, 2018, Joseph Martin Lauzon, loving husband and father of six children, passed away peacefully at the age of 96 in his home with his wife Lena by his side. Joseph was born on September, 21, 1922 in Sault Ste. Marie to Joseph and Margaret Lauzon. He served bravely, in WWII, with the Queen’s Own Rifles as a Rifleman, 3rd Division and then returned home and on May 13, 1947, he married his sweetheart, the former Lena Massovich, and together for 71 years they shared laughter, adventures, companionship and mounds of love as they raised six children. Joseph’s career spanned 41 years at Algoma Steel where he retired as a Supervisor in Transportation in 1981. He was an active sportsman and loved to spend time with Lena, bowling, curling, golfing and skiing. He was also an avid and at times tormented Blue Jays fan. His passion for his family and outdoors led to many “eventful” camping trips during the summer, until 1967 when he built a cottage at Sand Bay. It is there, in that place, where his family had their most cherished memories while growing up together. Devoted husband to Lena, and wonderful father to Linda (Terry), Peggy (Jimmy), late David (Gloria), Catherine (Rod), Joseph and Danny (Elan). Proud grandpa to Drew and Mandiy, Damien and Rejeanne, Dylan and Joseph, Matthew, Quynn and Lucas and seven great grandchildren. Joseph was predeceased by his sisters, Lenore Hall (late Arthur), Mercedes DiPasquale (late Remo), Betty Cherry (late Jim), Dorothy Miller (late Jack) and brother Phil (Marg). Special thank you to the Palliative Care team especially Marcy and Lisa; March of Dimes especially Stephanie and Veterans Affairs for all their support. A celebration of life will take place at the Arthur Funeral Home – Barton & Kiteley Chapel (492 Wellington St. E. – 705-759-2522) on Sunday, November 18, 2018 between 1 pm – 3 pm. Memorial contribution to A.R.C.H. would be appreciated.

At the going down of the sun

And in the morning

We will remember them.

Members of the Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 25 are requested to assemble at the Arthur Funeral Home – Barton & Kiteley Chapel on Sunday, November 18, 2018 at 3 pm for a memorial service for the late Joseph Lauzon.

“The echoes of beauty you've seen transpire,

Resound through dying coals of a campfire.”

Ernest Hemingway

* * * * * * * * * *

LAUZON, Joseph Martin - On Wednesday, November 14, 2018, Joseph Martin Lauzon, loving husband and father of six children, passed away peacefully at the age of 96 in his home with his wife Lena by his side.

Joseph was born on September, 21, 1922 in Sault Ste. Marie to Joseph and Margaret Lauzon. He served bravely, in WWII, with the Queen’s Own Rifles as a Rifleman, 3rd Division and then returned home and on May 13, 1947, he married his sweetheart, the former Lena Massovich, and together for 71 years they shared laughter, adventures, companionship and mounds of love as they raised six children. Joseph’s career spanned 41 years at Algoma Steel where he retired as a Supervisor in Transportation in 1981. He was an active sportsman and loved to spend time with Lena, bowling, curling, golfing and skiing. He was also an avid and at times tormented Blue Jays fan. His passion for his family and outdoors led to many “eventful” camping trips during the summer, until 1967 when he built a cottage at Sand Bay. It is there, in that place, where his family had their most cherished memories while growing up together. Devoted husband to Lena, and wonderful father to Linda (Terry), Peggy (Jimmy), late David (Gloria), Catherine (Rod), Joseph and Danny (Elan). Proud grandpa to Drew and Mandiy, Damien and Rejeanne, Dylan and Joseph, Matthew, Quynn and Lucas and seven great grandchildren. Joseph was predeceased by his sisters, Lenore Hall (late Arthur), Mercedes DiPasquale (late Remo), Betty Cherry (late Jim), Dorothy Miller (late Jack) and brother Phil (Marg). Special thank you to the Palliative Care team especially Marcy and Lisa; March of Dimes especially Stephanie and Veterans Affairs for all their support. A celebration of life will take place at the Arthur Funeral Home – Barton & Kiteley Chapel (492 Wellington St. E. – 705-759-2522) on Sunday, November 18, 2018 between 1 pm – 3 pm. Memorial contribution to A.R.C.H. would be appreciated.

At the going down of the sun

And in the morning

We will remember them.

Members of the Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 25 are requested to assemble at the Arthur Funeral Home – Barton & Kiteley Chapel on Sunday, November 18, 2018 at 3 pm for a memorial service for the late Joseph Lauzon.

“The echoes of beauty you've seen transpire,

Resound through dying coals of a campfire.”

Ernest Hemingway