GEORGE LAZARESCU

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GEORGE LAZARESCU

January 23, 1932 - November 21, 2023

It is the end of an era. George Lazarescu passed away peacefully at St. Boniface Hospital surrounded by the love and support of his family. He had recently been diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure, and with bravery accepted the journey to his final destination.

George was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Helen (nee Caulderwood) and by his sisters: Ina Gustufson, Alice Dunwoody and Margaret Sorensen.

George is survived by his family who has always been central to his life. His sisters: Ruby Lapierre of Edmonton, AB and Joyce Lindstein of Winnipeg, MB. His daughter Linda Lazarescu-King (Roland King) of Asquith, SK, son Daryl Lazarescu of Winnipeg, MB, son Doug Lazarescu of Richmond, BC and daughter Freya (nee Brenda) Hansen of Winnipeg, MB. Grandchildren Shane Lazarescu of Saskatoon, SK, Lora Pesant (Marc) of Calgary, AB, Sarah Hansen (Dan Clearwater) of Edenborough Scotland, and Ian Hansen (Amanda Burwell) of Winnipeg, MB. His great grandchildren: Alexandre and Evelyn Pesant of Calgary, AB.

George was born on the mixed family farm near Avonlea, SK. He remembers dust storms, hordes of grasshoppers and cut worms. George attended Sinclair Hill School, a one room school house until grade 9. George fed the chickens and gathered eggs from the hen house as soon as he could walk. One of George's first jobs was starting the fire in the morning at the school house before the teacher or other students arrived. George then roomed and boarded with various families in Avonlea, SK. to obtain his Grades 10, 11 and 12. George graduated high school in about 1949. When George was 19 years old he rented his uncle's farm and continued farming with his father. He purchased 3 purebred Herford heifers, but his herd was eventually wiped out with Hoof and Mouth Disease. George worked at the Weyburn Mental Hospital before he married. When George and Helen married in 1954, they remained at George's uncle's where they raised chickens, and sold the eggs to the local store in Avonlea, SK. Their flock of chickens was wiped out by disease. George and Helen moved to Regina, SK. where George worked at The Co-op Refinery. The shift work at the refinery was extremely difficult for George and his young family, so he switched jobs and was hired at Canadian Linen Supply as Chief Engineer and was later promoted to Production Manager. George obtained his 2nd Class Power Engineering Certificate in 1959, where he completed his higher physics with a slide rule. After many years of working at Canadian Linen, he again switched jobs and worked for McGavins Foods in Regina, SK. as the Maintenance Manager. McGavins shut down in Regina, SK and George was transferred to Winnipeg, MB in 1986.

George enjoyed family trips to the lake for fishing and waterskiing and many trips to the mountains for downhill skiing. George may have launched the boat a time or two and set it adrift in the river or the lake. It may have been dark and the boat almost out of gas but George always got his family home safely. George may not have been the best Captain but he was the family's Captain. George had always wanted to play the fiddle, so when he was in his 70's he started to take fiddle lessons and became quite a good fiddle player. He liked to play waltzes, jigs and polkas. George and Helen liked to travel and took well deserved vacations to Mexico, Europe, most of Canada and the American states including Hawaii, Texas, Nevada and Alaska. George and Helen's last trip together was a much-enjoyed trip to Churchill, MB to see the polar bears. After Helen passed, George travelled to Costa Rica with his daughter Linda and son Doug. George took a Caribbean cruise with his good friends Rene and Marguerite. George also travelled solo, sailing down the Danube from Budapest to Bucharest. George enjoyed golfing and reading both fiction and history about the old west. George enjoyed bridge and was a member of various community bridge clubs in Winnipeg. George was a skilled wood craftsman and made his family many pieces of furniture, including roll top desks, cedar chests, coffee and end tables, guitar stands and spice racks.

George had a great wit and loved to laugh. Anyone that knew him has shared a joke or a laugh or two or three. The family hopes you are "farting through silk" and that all of your projects don't "work like the windshield wipers on a duck's arse."

George was patient, kind and generous. He was the best father, grandfather and great grandfather. He will be dearly missed by all.

The family would like to thank Cathedrale Manor, the Palliative Care Team and the Palliative Care Unit at St. Boniface Hospital as well as all the Home Care Aides, especially Hanna and Sadat.

As per George's wishes there will not be a Celebration of Life service. In lieu of flowers George has requested that you make a donation to any Humane Society, The Canadian Wildlife Federation or Ducks Unlimited.

Glen Lawn Funeral Home

204-982-7550

Tribute Link: www.glenlawn.ca.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 25, 2023, Nov 25, 2023