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Roland Maurice Massinon was born in St. Claude, Manitoba on June 14, 1960 and grew up in Haywood. He passed away suddenly in Calgary on Thursday, January 26, 2023 at the age of 62.
Roland leaves to mourn his beloved sons, Robert (Jessalayne), Andy, Matthew, and Andrew; grandchildren Aiya-Rose, and Ezekiel; brothers and sisters René (Marie), Yvonne Fleury, Doris Talbot (François), Raymond (Rachel), Maurice (Aline), Gérald, Denis, and Donald (Kim) as well as nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Roland was predeceased by his mother Marie-Ange, and father Victor Massinon. Roland also leaves behind a cherished group of friends he referred to as the “U of Mers.” This was a group of graduates of the University of Manitoba, who have been gathering together for the past 30 years, sometimes individually, but always for a “Manitoba Christmas Party.” Every one of these friends he considered his extended family.
Roland went to high school in St. Claude and graduated in 1977. He was a graduate of University of Manitoba, in the geological engineering discipline. Roland spent many years working in the oil and gas industry in Alberta, and later as a rotating pump specialist across North America. Roland met Dawneen Johnston in 1983 while working at Esso Resources in Calgary, and was wed August of 1985. Robert and Andy arrived a few years later, and the family moved to Virden, Manitoba to be near Roland’s family. And the family grew again with Matthew’s arrival. Roland was a loving and devoted father, making sure that his boys enjoyed outdoor activities as much as he himself did. Rob was cross-country skiing with his dad when he was 3, and Roland built a little sled on skis for Andy to be able to go along as well. The boys enjoyed hiking, skating, golfing, badminton, and playing soccer with their father. Roland spent several years of the boys’ youth coaching soccer (up to three teams per season). In 2004, Andy made the Alberta Summer Games under 14 team, and Roland was assistant coach.
Roland enjoyed sports and even though he lived in Calgary and was born in Manitoba, somehow he became an avid Saskatchewan Roughriders and a Montreal Canadiens fan. He recently went to Montreal to watch a hockey game with his nephew, Joel. He would often drive to Regina to cheer on the Riders with his boys. Roland was known as the “fun uncle.” He spent as much time as he could outside with all the nieces and nephews, playing soccer, hockey, hide and seek, tag, and any game the kids wanted to play. Roland was up for the challenge. He was very attached to his family roots and the family farm. He made it a point of going back every year.
Roland and Dawneen divorced in 1995 and they moved back to Alberta where Roland settled in Okotoks. The older boys would be raised and attend school in Okotoks. In 2005, Roland was blessed with his fourth son, Andrew Perewernycky.
Roland was very attached to his French roots and music. His favorite singer was Salvatore Adamo. He has seen him live in concert on a few occasions and even went to Belgium to see him perform. His favorite bands were the Beatles, Blue Rodeo, BTO, Burton Cummings, and Shania Twain, to name a few. Roland loved to travel especially to Hawaii, Palm Springs, Quebec, and the Canadian Maritimes. In 1999 Roland took the three boys to Disneyland, where, if the photos are to be believed, he enjoyed the roller coasters and other rides more than the boys! In 2008 Roland would take ALL of his boys to Disney World. This trip, the boys did in fact enjoy the roller coasters, riding over and over on “The Kraken.”
Robert’s favourite memories of his dad were times spent around a campfire. Roland loved spending time outdoors camping and would often stay for a week or two at Gooseberry campground just outside of Calgary so he could work while in nature. They also spent many hours together completing construction projects from pouring concrete to painting and everything in between. Roland was not afraid of working hard, finding creative solutions to problems or getting his hands dirty. Rob learned a lot from him, and continues to bring that piece of his dad into his everyday life. Roland was excited when Rob and Jessa got married, he finally had a daughter! Roland was even more thrilled when they had kids, he was a wonderful grandpa to both Aiya-Rose & Ezekiel. Aiya-Rose said the thing she’ll miss the most about her grandpa is his love. Rob and Jessa will continue to keep Roland’s memory alive, and tell Zeke of the many stories of his grandpa, showing him the videos of grandpa, doing anything and everything to get a giggle out of his little Zeke.
Roland and Andy had love of soccer in common. Many mornings they were up before the sun to watch and cheer for their European soccer teams. Weather permitting in Calgary, Roland sacrificed his time, energy and often sleep in order to flood his quonset in order for the boys to skate anytime they wanted to on his acreage. In Andy’s youth, many of his birthday parties were spent with friends playing hockey on this rink, and gathered around a roaring bonfire for hotdogs afterwards.
Roland was incredibly proud of his son Matthew’s artistic talents and loved to watch him perform. He went to nearly every performance of Godspell while Matt was in high school, and every performance of Les Miserables while Matt was volunteering with Storybook Theater. Roland would take Matt to concerts and the two of them were lucky enough to see Ringo twice together, and Burton Cummings three times. Some of Matt’s favorite memories included scanning the audience, looking for Roland during curtain call of his shows, where both of them would tear up after making eye contact. Roland and his pride in Matt’s performing is one of the main reasons Matt continues to perform.
Roland always found time to spend with Andrew and encouraged him to try a variety of sports including football, hockey, basketball, skiing, badminton, and soccer. Once Andrew found his passion in football Roland took him to every Riders game in Calgary and every Labour Day game in Regina. In 2018, Roland signed Andrew up to play flag football where Roland attended every game. Andrew would meet his girlfriend Alison through flag football. Roland watched Andrew and Alison play football together for three years before they officially got together. Roland whole heartedly welcomed Alison into the family, and included her in all of their traditions, which included the yearly Riders games, yearly ski trips to Sunshine, and in 2022 invited Alison to Manitoba allowing her to meet the Massinon family.
A small gathering of family and friends will be held at: Snodgrass Funeral Homes in Okotoks at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday February 7, 2023. Another memorial will be held in Haywood, Manitoba later this year.
To share expressions of sympathy, please visit: www.snodgrassfuneralhomes.com / Roland Massinon.
Memorial Tributes may be made to Calgary Meow Foundation in honor of Roland’s love for cats, especially cats in need.
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June 14 1960
January 26 2023
Death notice for the town of: Okotoks, Province: Alberta
death notice Roland Maurice Massinon June 14 1960
January 26 2023
obituaries notice Roland Maurice Massinon June 14 1960
January 26 2023
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Roland Maurice Massinon June 14 1960
January 26 2023 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.
