Joseph "Joe" Conrad la Plante

If life was measured by compassion, resilience, humility, integrity, rigorous honesty, laughter, corky humour, relentless optimism and unconditional love we believe Joe would have lived 9 lives. At the age of 60 he left behind family, friends and a whole community of people with endless memories to share and reminisce over because after all he lived a truly meaningful life and lived his life with such strength and determination. His story is worth telling, Joe gave his all and he was the most selfless person you could ever meet, he breathed and lived his recovery in NA it was the most important thing to him. He died 31 years clean and sober leaving behind a legacy that many, many people will follow and be inspired to also stay clean and sober most importantly his children breaking the chains in their family bloodline, it ends with them.

Joseph Conrad La Plante was born April 7th, 1965 in Vancouver, BC, raised in Richmond he passed away peacefully in his sleep after a battle against stage 4 cancer shortly after a long time friend Bill visited his bedside at North Island hospital in Comox Valley on November 30th, 2025. Joe fought this battle heroically and with great strength he went through his cancer diagnosis a true warrior exampling a resilience that not many people have, he went through this diagnosis and chemotherapy without mind altering medication only Tylenol and Naproxen, he held on through excruciating pain but he was destined to remain faithful and loyal to his recovery which meant no other drugs. He wanted more than anything to show others that staying sober and clean is possible even in the most uncertain and painful times, he truly is an excellent example of great strength and determination. He died a warrior and it is with great sadness to announce his passing to those who knew him. He is survived by his wife Michelle, his 3 children Kayla, Jacob and Matthew, grandson Grayson, his sister Claudette, his brother Perry, and many nieces and nephews along with a wonderful community of friends through his beloved NA group.

God saw him getting tired, a cure was not to be. He wrapped him in his loving arms and whispered “ come with me”. Joe tried so hard to stay with us, his fight was all in vain. God took him in his loving arms and freed him from his pain. He suffered much in silence his spirit did not bend he faced his pain with courage until the very end. When we saw him sleeping, so peaceful and free from pain, we could not wish him back to suffer that again. A golden heart stopped beating, two gentle hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best.