Dad is survived by his four children, Jeffrey (Suzanne Mulaire), Marcia Henri, Michael and Lesley (Don Rooney); grandchildren, Matthew, Mark, Stephen, Lise, Gaëtan, Chantal, Alexandra and Kenneth along with their partners; great-grandchildren, Jamie, Kai, Eve, Spencer, Marianne and Théodore, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Dad was preceded by his parents, Raymond Sr. and Marjorie; his brothers, Kenneth and Raymond Jr.; sister Margaret, daughter-in-law Vicki, and his beloved wife Joyce who passed away June 22, 2019.
Dad was born December 16, 1927, in Xenia, Ohio, the youngest in his family. The family moved to Winnipeg when dad was three years old to enable his father to take a job with the CNR. The family settled in the North End where Dad made many lifelong friendships. Dad graduated from St. John's Tech, and returned to Ohio for one year of university before returning to Winnipeg to work for the railway as a porter before obtaining employment at Imperial Oil then on to Furnaceman and finally, his own business, Supreme Electric.
Dad met Mom in 1946 and they were married June 4, 1952. They first lived in St. Boniface and then in 1955 moved to McCalman Avenue, where they raised their family. In 1998 Mom and Dad moved to the family cottage at Lester Beach, joining many friends who had likewise retired to the beach. They enjoyed life there until 2007 when health issues required them to move back to the city. Lester Beach was a special place for Dad where he loved spending time with his family. He was never one to sit on the beach, instead working in the yard or finding a project to do. Dad also enjoyed fishing with Jeff, Michael, Don, his grandsons and friends, especially at Marion Lake.
Mom and Dad enjoyed travelling and visited Spain, Portugal, England, Ireland and Scotland and cruised in the Mediterranean. They also had many trips to the casinos in Nevada, sometimes just the two of them and other times with good friends. In later years, they spent their winters in BC, getting away from our cold winters.
In 2009, dad started dialysis. He had known for many years this could happen, but it was not until a major surgery that this became part of his life. In 2011 at the age of 83 years, dad became a member of the Home Hemodialysis program at Seven Oaks General Hospital. For seven years Dad was able to perform his own dialysis and to be at home with Mom and to live a somewhat normal life. He, and his family, were extremely proud of this accomplishment. Unfortunately, for the past two and one-half years, Dad required assistance to remain at home to dialyze.
There are many people who have played important roles in helping Dad live comfortably in the last several years. Verna, Cindy, Sunny, Melanie and Ivy stepped in to support dad continuing to dialyze at home when he could not carry on himself. Without them, he would have had to return to three trips per week to the hospital. There are no words to express our gratitude.
We also had an amazing team of health care aides who, for the past three years, have supported both Mom and Dad in their apartment. The family thanks Luvie, Alma, Emely, Heather, Andrea, Cheska, Dorina, Anita, Cecilia and Raje for their dedication, enabling mom and dad to enjoy these years in their own apartment. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
The nurses and health care aides were part of Dad's family and gave him a quality of life that he would not otherwise have had. You all meant the world to him.
Thank you to nephrologists, nurses, dieticians, pharmacists, clerks and technologists at the home hemodialysis program, whose support gave Dad life.
Thank you to Val Dunphy of the Manitoba Kidney Foundation for her support and friendship shown to Dad over the years.
Thank you to the staff of Seven Oaks Hospital 5th floor Unit 2 for making Dad's last few days comfortable.
And finally, but not least, thank you to all Dad's many friends and family who phoned, Face-timed, visited or sent well wishes in his last week. He was comforted by the love and friendship.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Manitoba Kidney Foundation would be much appreciated.
A private family interment was held on Friday, June 26 at Green Acres Cemetery.
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