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A Fisherman’s Prayer
God grant me that I may live to fish until my dying day,
and when it comes to my last cast, I then most humbly pray,
when in the Lord’s safe landing net,
I’m peacefully asleep, that in his mercy I am judged
big enough to keep.
-author unknown
LAURIENTE, DONALD, PETER (“EGGY”)
July 22, 1939 ~ August 3, 2021
Age 82 years
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our dear loved one, Donald, who passed away peacefully on August 3 at his home in Nelson, surrounded by his loving family.
Don was born in Trail, B.C. on July 22, 1939, to his parents Mary (Mattiazzo) Lauriente and Arnold Lauriente . He enjoyed a happy and active childhood along with his two sisters Bernice and Cynthia Lauriente. He was a sports enthusiast and rose through the ranks of hockey as a defenseman. Upon graduating from J. Lloyd Crowe high school in Trail, he was offered a full four-year hockey scholarship to Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan. During his junior year there, he returned home to Trail during the summer months and married his high school sweetheart, Lucille (Marchessault). They made their home in Michigan for the duration of his study there, at which time he earned a BSc degree in metallurgical engineering and a BSc in engineering administration.
After graduation, Don took on a position with Alcan Aluminum in Kitimat where he worked as a production engineer. A year later he responded to a call back to the Kootenays and accepted the position of superintendant of the iron and steel plant in Kimberley, a position which he held for several years. While in Kimberley, he also worked for a few years in personnel and industrial relations at the Skookumchuck pulp and paper mill at Canal Flats.
Don had often talked about his interest in dentistry and in the summer of 1973 he enrolled at the University of Alberta in Edmonton for a year, in order to complete the biological science prerequisites. He was accepted into the UBC School of Dentistry where he studied for 4 years and earned his Doctor of Medical Dentistry degree. Don set up a family dental practice as a partner at Comer Street Dental Clinic in Williams Lake. He often described his family’s time there as idyllic because of his work, home and their many friends – and especially after experiencing the joys of fishing at Bella Coola. Williams Lake was home for 9 years until he was offered a position with the B.C. College Of Dental Surgeons in Vancouver as Director of Member Services, a position which he held for 13 years until his retirement.
After retirement, he and Lucille moved to Nelson where they thought it might be “fun” to restore a heritage home. This was to be their retirement project. When not working on the house, he worked as a bus driver for the city of Nelson. He often said that driving buses was one of his favorite jobs. He also enjoyed being a member of the West Kootenay Fly Fishing Club where he made many friends. On August 20th 2021, he and his wife would have been married for 61 years. Their family has been and would always be the very heart and center of their lives.
Don is predeceased by his parents, Mary (Mattiazzo) and Arnold Lauriente, his sister Bernice (Jewitt, Ruscko) and his infant grandson, Christian Bowley. He is survived by his spouse Lucille (Marchessault), his sister Cynthia Lauriente, his children; Katherine Bonner (Lynn James); Patrick (Tracy), Rebecca Lauriente, Victoria Lauriente-Hillebrand (Christopher), and Anna Lauriente; his grandchildren Erica Kobryn (Oktawian), Stephan Bottin, Teagan Lauriente, Tanna Lauriente, Madeline Bowley, Sophia Lauriente-DuToit, and his triplet grandsons, Lucas, Nico, and Arnold Lauriente; his three great-grandsons Owen, Mason, and Liam Kobryn; his aunt Norma (Marchiori) Milne; brother and sister-in-law Irene (Marchessault) and Dario Nonis and many nieces, nephews, cousins, second cousins, and friends.
Don was a man of many talents; he was a skilled skater, scratch golfer, ski patroller, a great fly-tyer and fly-fisherman, and a talented public speaker and story-teller with a great sense of humor. While at Michigan Tech he was on the Dean’s list each year for his outstanding academic achievements and athletic ability. This won him the award of being named in the US publication “Who’s Who In American Colleges And Universities”. While all of these accomplishments are admirable, simply said – he was a great guy for whom we give sincere thanks for having had him in our lives. You are so loved by your family and friends Don, and we are missing you terribly. You are forever in our hearts.
~ ~ ~
In memory of Don, donations can be made to the B.C. Cancer Control Agency.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Donald Peter Lauriente July 22 1939
August 3 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Nelson, Province: Colombie britanique