Lawrence "Larry" Arthur Rabuka

It is with sadness that the family of Larry (Lawrence) Arthur Rabuka announces his peaceful passing on Wednesday August 13, 2025, at the age of 84, following a brief hospital stay. Larry will be dearly missed by his daughter Cheryl and beloved granddaughters Demi (Jake) and Victoria (Tyler). Larry is now reunited with his cherished wife Mary (2017) and daughter Wendy (1980), and he will also join his son-in-law Jim who passed in 2021. Larry is survived by his loving sister Janice (Kent).

A prairie boy at heart, Larry was born and raised in the farmlands of Saskatchewan. The son of John and Violet, he later moved to Toronto to attend radio college. In Toronto, he met Mary: the love of his life, and a spirited and strong-willed Newfoundlander who had come to Ontario after the loss of her mother. Together, they built a beautiful life and welcomed daughters Cheryl in 1965 and Wendy in 1968.

A camera technician with the CBC, Larry had a passion for electronics and capturing life’s great moments both at work and at home. Despite the tragic passing of their daughter Wendy in 1980, both Larry and Mary stood strong in their love for one another, sharing 53 years of happy marriage until Mary’s passing in 2017.

A proud and doting grandpa, Larry created a lifetime of cherished memories with Demi and Victoria. They have fond memories of Larry teaching them to read and write, though Peter Rabbit always seemed to misspell words on the eggs he left hidden in the garden at Easter. Larry taught Demi how to play cribbage on an old set of Toronto Blue Jays playing cards. He encouraged Victoria as she strummed on the guitar and made up her own tunes. He took them on walks through the “Snake Park” and picked Saskatoon berries off of neighbourhood trees. Spending most evenings after school and every day in the summertime at grandma and grandpa’s house as kids, the Rabuka residence was a second home to Demi and Victoria, full of laughter, learning, and unconditional love. Demi and Victoria shared a loving bond with Larry and Mary, and that bond continued as they grew into young ladies. Larry loved watching their successes and enjoyed spending time with them up to his final days.

One of Larry’s great loves was the Toronto Blue Jays. He loved them from the moment they hit the scene in 1976, and he proudly framed the front page of the Toronto Star after their first game. Demi’s first sentence was “Okay Blue Jays, let’s play ball,” no doubt Larry’s influence. In his later years, he found great joy in watching games with Cheryl, always staying one step ahead of the broadcasters with his sharp baseball mind.

A talented woodworker and gifted handyman, Larry could fix just about anything. He generously gave his time to help others – mowing lawns for elderly neighbours, sharing the bounty of his sprawling garden, and lending a helping hand whenever it was needed. Larry embodied kindness in all he did, and his quiet strength and generous spirit touched the lives of everyone who knew him.

He will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.

Visitation will be offered at Paul O’Connor Funeral Home on Wednesday August 27, 2025, at 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.

A funeral service in memory of Larry will be held on Thursday August 28, 2025, at Paul O’Connor Funeral Home at 11:00 a.m. with a burial to follow at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, where he will peacefully rest with his beloved Mary and Wendy.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kidney Foundation of Canada or the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.