September 8, 1925 - October 7, 2021
In Loving Memory ~
With sad and broken hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved father. Dad passed away at the age of 96 on 07 October, 2021 at Burnaby General Hospital.
Dad was born in Trail, B.C. on 08 September 1925. He spent 92 years in Trail until moving to Vancouver to be closer to his daughters.
Dad had a remarkable life growing up with his family in "the Gulch". At the age of 12 Dad started playing the trumpet and music became his life long passion. An avid sportsman, he played baseball, lacrosse and hockey. He played with the Trail Junior Smoke Eaters and travelled across Canada playing in the Memorial Cup 1943/44 and was scouted by the Chicago Blackhawks. In 1944 there was one draft that superseded the NHL invitations; it was called WW2. He travelled to Europe in May 1945 trained as a gunner in the Canadian Army. Once in the UK he auditioned with the Royal Canadian Engineers Band and spent a year playing music in the UK and Continental Europe. He also played for Queen Wilhelmina after her return to Holland in 1945.
Upon his return to Trail he started his 42 year electrical career with Cominco (Teck) and played hockey with the Smoke Eaters travelling to Los Angeles several times. In 1947 he met and married "the love of his life" Dorothy and they were married for 65 years.
Our father, the "coolest" Dad in town, played music with several bands in Trail including The Maple Leaf Band (80yrs) 17 years as Bandmaster, as well as big dance bands The Serenaders, The Novatones and SwingSations, The Rossland Light Opera Players (50yrs) and several small groups including The Misfits. In his 80's & 90's Dad and his friends played in "old folks homes" where they always said the band was older than the audience!
He was a lifetime member of the Royal Canadian Legion and received their Meritorious Service Medal. For many years he played the Last Post every 11th of November as well as many funerals for WW2 veterans in the Trail area.
Dad was all about music, but his love was jazz and he had a record collection to prove it. He played with and was friends with Rafael Mendez, a very famous trumpet player. When he met Chet Baker at a concert he was speechless.
Anyone who knew Dad knew he was kind, and had a great sense of humour. He loved animals and will be greatly missed by his "buddy" Big Red. Dad was a trumpet player, defensemen, Father, Uncle, Grandfather, and an all around amazing man. He will be greatly missed.
Dad was predeceased by his wife Dorothy, his parents Elisa and Battista, his sister Arcol (Tamby), brothers Gilbert "Cook" (Perina) and Victor (Margaret), his nephews Adolf (Irene) Tambellini and Kevin Pare.
Left to cherish his memory are his daughters; Donna (Peter) Graham and Rochelle (Stephen Barnes) De Paolis, his grandchildren, Peter (Jolene), Lauren (Sean), Cole (Nicolette), Clark and "honorary" grandson Brent Mattson. His sister-in-law Molly and brother-in-law Len Pare. His nieces Loretta (Reno) Zanier, Maureen (Gord) Mattson, Diane Mailey, Cathy Paolini, Brenda Paolini and Lynn Pare; his nephews Ron (Diane) Paolini, Donald (Val) Paolini, Lorne (Karen) Pare, as well as all of their "famiglia".
The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to the compassionate staff at Palliative Care - Dr. Isobel Theberge, Dr. Vincent Fruci at Burnaby General Hospital; Reverend Vincent Hawkswell, and to Alternatives Funeral & Cremation Services.
Cremation has taken place. A family gathering will take place in Trail next Spring/Summer.
As an expression of sympathy, donations may be made in Lorne's name to either the CNIB Foundation or B.C. SPCA.