Don Sharabura

We all lost a larger-than-life personality when Donald Edward Sharabura passed away peacefully at age 86.

Born in Toronto to Ukrainian immigrants, William and Mary (Kuchyra) Sharabura, Don was raised in Sault Ste. Marie. A true pioneer, he skipped two grades and left home at 16 for Queen's University, his geology studies serving him well for a future in mining.

Don's frontier spirit led him to Labrador City and the Iron Ore Company of canada where he was managing over 400 men by age 22. He went on to work for Hewitt Equipment (a caterpillar dealer) in Sept-lies and Montreal for 19 years, then finished out his career as an executive with CIL/ICI Explosives in Toronto. In 1998 Don and his wife Jean put down retirement roots in White Rock, BC.

Don met his "bride" in 1960 in Honolulu, each of them on vacation - he escaping the Labrador cold and Jean on break from her 5th grade teaching job in California - and met on Waikiki Beach in front of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. They corresponded often and married in Jean's hometown of Aberdeen, WA on July 8, 1961, with Don meeting his future in-laws only days prior to the wedding. He passed the test, and the couple went on to have four children, recently celebrating 61 years together.

Tall and charming, Don filled the room when he arrived. A loving father, he was committed to his children's lives, emphasizing education balanced out by fun and adventure, highlighted by family ski trips to Mt. Tremblant in Quebec. Don was lucky to see the world; over the years, he and Jean visited 60+ countries.

An avid and skilled fisherman, Don cherished his 30+ annual salmon fishing trips to Quebec, especially on the Moisie River. He had a green thumb, creating a giant vegetable garden in Beaconsfield and planting over 50 Japanese maple trees in BC. He was a proud "foodie", constantly researching and sampling restaurants and specialty food shops. True to his roots, one of Don's favourite foods was Ukrainian pedaheh (perogies).

Don is survived by Jean, Steve (daughter-in-law Jill, grandchildren Kate and Eric), Mike, Susan, and Scott (daughter-in-law Kim, grandchildren Dougie, Connie and Colin) and remembered by extended family and friends.

Don will be laid to rest at Victory Memorial Park in Surrey, BC. His request was for donations be made to Sunnyside Acres Heritage Society or Peace Arch Hospital Foundation, in lieu of flowers.

A "Celebration of Don's Life" will be held in late Spring.