RICHARD BLANEY

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RICHARD BLANEY March 25, 1925 - December 18, 1999 Peacefully, on December 18, 1999, Richard Blaney passed away at his home at the age of 74. He will be lovingly remembered by his children, Stephen and his fiance, Lorraine, Jennifer and her husband Tom, and his granddaughter Jillian, as well as Dan and Doreen Faye and his great-grandson, Christopher. He will also be fondly remembered by his sister, Sally King; his brother Tom and Dorothy Blaney; his nephew Rob Reid, as well as the many close friends and companions he developed over the years. Richard was predeceased by his wife Jean and daughter Pamela as well as his brother Archie. Richard was born in Saskatoon on March 30, 1925. He grew up in Saskatoon in the family home to which this day his brother, Tom resides. He joined the Air Force on October 4, 1943 and was on active service until September 1945. He took great pride in his time in the Air Force and had wonderful stories that he liked to share with his many friends and family. He later got a job at General Motors in Saskatoon and that is how he and Jean met. Soon after they married in 1953, Richard and Jean moved to Winnipeg, where his sales career blossomed. Richard loved his work and the many memories of his travels on the road were often topics of conversation in his retirement years. Richard, in his later years of working involved sales again, but as a manufacturers representative. There was no stopping Richard. He had so much drive and determination that trips on the road in the winter were not going to slow him down. Everyone knew that Richard saw a caring, giving and kind man. He touched everyone he met and because of that he had so many people that cared and loved him. Richards loyalty was also so true. Once you became a friend, you were always his friend. Richard loved to travel. One of his favourite places to go to was his cottage in Belair, where often he would go in the summertime. He also was glad to be able to go back to Europe. He always talked of going back there one day. In the later years, he travelled to Kelowna, B.C. quite often, and began another journey in his life. He never had a problem with meeting people, and once again began to develop even more friendships. Everyone in Richards life will be remembering how he loved to be busy, whether by doing things for other people or laughing it up with friends and family. He had a serious side that like to analyze, but he also had a wonderful sense of humour, and seeing that smile would make everyones day. We will all remember our special stories of Richard and know that he is smiling and at peace now. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 22 in the Desjardins Funeral Chapel, 357 Des Meurons St. with Fr. Paul Campeau officiating. The family wishes to express their thanks to Dr. Cameron and the staff at the St. Boniface Hospital, as well as Jackie Gregory at the Diabetes Clinic he attended. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association, 102-310 Broadway, Winnipeg, MB R3C 0S6 or the Heart and Stroke Foundation, 301-352 Donald St., Winnipeg, MB R3B 2H8. Desjardins Funeral Chapel in care of arrangements, 233-4949.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 21, 1999