MAURICE (MOE) ALBERT JOSEPH HAMONIC

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MAURICE (MOE) ALBERT JOSEPH HAMONIC September 3, 1940 - July 16, 2004 With heavy heart, I announce the untimely passing of my cherished husband Maurice, on July 16, 2004 at 9:12 a.m., at the Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre, after a courageous three and a half year battle with the complications of advanced prostate cancer. Maurice suffered a stroke on the evening of July 15. He was surrounded by his loving family at his bedside and the incredible spirit and prayers of so many special friends as he began his next journey. His memories will be cherished by his loving wife Joyce; his sisters, Gertrude Hamonic Desharnais, Winnipeg, Jeannine and husband Jack Henderson, South Africa; brother Henri and wife Madeleine, St. Malo; nephews, Sean Henderson, Robert Gobeil, Lucien Hamonic; and niece Joele (Gerry) Friesen; great-nieces, Jessica and Amber Friesen; loving mother-in-law Lena Kelm, Winnipeg; sister-in-law Bettiann Kelm (Barry Baker), Calgary; brother-in-law Ernie Kelm, Ottawa; and Ernies sons, Greg, Quebec City, Jeff (Catherine), Ottawa; their mother Yvette Kelm, Regina; and a large circle of friends and relatives. He was predeceased by his parents, Marguerite and Robert Hamonic; father-in-law Edward Kelm; and brothers-in-law, Kenneth Kelm and Henri Desharnais. Maurice was born in Winnipeg on September 3, 1940 and was raised in La Rochelle, St. Malo and Moose Jaw. He received a bilingual education in Manitoba. He was Marguerite and Roberts oldest child and the first grandchild of the Breton and Hamonic families. His four proud grandparents came from Brittany, France. We were married in St. Marys Cathedral in Winnipeg, on August 2, 1969. We spent almost 35 wonderful years of marriage in love, devotion, friendship and partnership. We built and moved to our home (the North 40) in Headingley in 1975. Maurice loved life and nature. He gardened (especially multiplier onions, tomatoes, and roses), whipped around on his garden tractors, tended his many bird feeders and bird baths, barbecued summer and winter and rested and read sports news on the decks and in the sunroom, all the while fending off the deer, rabbits and squirrels!!! He loved the magic of Christmas and delighted in sharing this spirit with his neighbours by decorating the stately evergreens in his front yard with literally hundreds of lights each December. Indoors, he set up his miniature village, purchased poinsettias and decorated the family tree. Maurice enjoyed spirited gatherings of family and friends. He helped shop, chop, wash, and cook for so many "feasts". Our home was filled with so much love and laughter. Travel, camping and holidays also gave us many happy moments. We travelled across Canada many times, the United States, Hawaii, Barbados and Great Britain twice. Our trip to Ireland and England in 2002 was great! Before our marriage he had travelled to Africa and Europe. Maurice had a varied working career. He served in the Armed Forces, worked on the Northern DEW line and in home entertainment and hardware sales for many years. Here he made lifelong relationships. Larry, Mike, Don, and Barry at BDM, you were a great team! Maurice was a sports enthusiast, hockey, baseball, golf, football!!! He attended three baseball spring training camps in the United States and played in an old time hockey tournament in Arizona. Last years trip to Phoenix, AZ with Wally and Bob was a great time! Many happy competitive hours were spent on his hockey pools. He faithfully checked the Internet at 6:30 a.m. for the hockey results. Moe is now busily organizing hockey pools in heaven! Maurice was a friend, a gentleman, a giver, an all star! Friendship was his hobby! His kind nature, infectious laugh, joie de vivre and positive attitude to life were easy to return. His inner fortitude and faith in God shone through even through his illness. Remembering him is so easy, but missing him is so hard! The support and unity of his many friends at his Thursday breakfast group and in the H and H group throughout his lifetime meant so much to us. The hockey awards you gave him, Rookie of the Year, Most Improved Player, Best Defence Player, "Fighter" of the Year when he was first diagnosed with cancer and the Do Right Award this May were always on display in our family room. They touched his heart and soul! The acts of kindness by our family (especially Bettiann), friends, neighbours (especially the Johnstons), the medical staff and Fr. Barry Schoonbaert are deeply appreciated. I sincerely thank Tom Townsend, a long standing friend, for delivering Maurices Funeral Eulogy and for all his computer aid throughout the years so Maurice could run his hockey pools so effectively. In lieu of flowers, should friends so desire, donations may be made for a park bench in the Assiniboine Park in Maurices honour, Steinbach Credit Union, 2100 McGillivray Blvd., Park Bench Fund. Moe spent many hours of enjoyment and reflection here especially during his illness. At Maurices request cremation has taken place. Funeral liturgy will be held on Thursday, July 22 at 1:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 4588 Roblin Blvd. (parking access from Grant) with Fr. Barry Schoonbaert officiating. Interment will take place at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens following the reception. ".... Hey, who blew out the candle? Dont be afraid, said Death, It was only a draft from the door. Come outside and pick yourself a star" G. Sewell Arrangements entrusted to: CHAPEL LAWN FUNERAL HOME CREMATION AND RECEPTION CENTRE 885-9715 Family and friends are invited to sign the Book of Condolence at www.chapellawn.mb.ca.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 21, 2004