Fernand Laurel Joseph (Laurie) Hamelin passed away peacefully on January 13, 2022 at the age of 88 in the Whitemouth Personal Care Home.
He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 61 years Iris (nee Langhan), children Connie (Gerald) Brown, Cory, Karen, and Kami Hamelin. He will also be remembered by grandchildren Danielle (Anthony) Seymour, Jeremy Brown (Amy Guetre) and Sunniva Wagner, as well as great grandchildren Layne and Laurynn Seymour. He will also be remembered by numerous nieces and nephews.
Dad was predeceased by his parents Alfred and Cecilia (Beaudry) Hamelin, and by his older sisters Hilda Trudeau, Gertie Lamontagne, Leonie St. Laurent, and younger brother Joe Shesternik.
Dad was born on August 31, 1933 in St. Eustache, Manitoba. He lived and went to school there until his family moved to Pine Falls in 1949. There he helped his dad run a bus and taxi service. He then started his 40-year career being a self employed breadman. This was an incredible accomplishment because being self-employed he had no sick days or vacation. It was proof of his incredible work ethic.
He met Mom in Carman, Manitoba and on May 7, 1960 they were married there. They lived in Winnipeg, and that is where all four of us kids were born. In 1975 they purchased a farm in Elma, Manitoba and our family of six packed up and moved. We helped dad build a half mile racetrack for training the harness horses that he raised, trained, and raced. This was a lifelong passion he got from his dad, and he passed down the love of horses to several of us kids.
In 2003 Dad was made a lifetime member of the Manitoba Harness Horsemen Inc. He also served on the board of the Canadian Trotting Association as a board member representing Manitoba. The farm also became home to a large collection of animals. Dad was a total softy and numerous animals came to the farm when one of us expressed an interest in a particular creature. Dad was always there for graduations and other celebrations over the years. He did not say much but he was always beaming with pride at our accomplishments. When he could find a free minute over the years, he would go deer or goose hunting or spend time snowmobiling. He also loved his garden.
Cremation has taken place and a service is planned for Friday May 20, 2022 at 2:00 pm.at Green Acres Funeral Home in Winnipeg, Manitoba provided the Covid rules will allow this to occur.
We would like to thank the staff at the Whitemouth Personal Care Home and Dr. Selena Papetti for the wonderful care Dad received in his three years in the home, and especially during the past few weeks before his passing.
If family or friends so desire a donation in Dad’s name can be made to the Whitemouth Personal Care Home Box 60, Whitemouth, Manitoba R0E 2G0.
