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It is with sadness that the family of Donald “Don” Walker announce his peaceful passing at the age of 98 at the Moncton Veterans’ Health Centre in the early hours of Sunday, September 24, 2023.
Don is survived by his wife of 13 years, Florine Richard; his three children: Lynn O’Connor (John, deceased), Gary Walker (Heather) and Sharon Gautreau (Ron) and his stepchildren: Marc Richard (Sabra), Jacques Richard (Josée) and Nicole Gautreau (Charles). He will be missed by eight grandchildren: Leslie O’Connor, Kelly Belanger (Mike), Robert Walker (Kate), Michael Walker (Jamie), Julie Beyea (George), Sandra Kell (Dave), Karen Esculier (Stephane) and Jeff Gautreau (Catherine), 8 step-grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, 2 step-great-grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces, nephews.
Don was predeceased by his beloved wife of 61 years, Helen (Cheverie); his parents; his infant son, Kevin; his sisters: Kathleen “Kaye” and Betty; his brothers: Peter and George; as well as his stepson, Claude Richard (Claire).
Don was born in 1925 to Peter and Edith (Smith) Walker in Kenogami, Quebec and the great beauty and wilderness of the Saguenay region helped foster a lifelong love of the outdoors that would continue throughout his life. Upon completing school, he joined the Canadian Army, later qualifying as a member of the First Canadian Parachute Battalion. He served overseas in England, Holland, France, and Germany and had been in training for deployment to Japan when World War II ended.
Don met the lovely Helen Cheverie of Souris, PEI, in Montreal, and the two were married upon his return from Europe in December of 1945. The newlyweds then moved back to Kenogami to start their family, and it was there that Don began to work for the Price Brothers (later Abitibi-Price) paper mill. Don was a loyal employee at Price Bothers for 41 years, at which point he retired in 1986.
After his retirement, Don and Helen moved to Moncton, New Brunswick, where they became active members of the community, joining the Mud River and “Double S” Cloggers and attending regular ceilidhs. A devout Catholic, Don was proud to be baptized in 1989, and he found peace amid the many friends he made through his involvement with the church.
Throughout his adult life, Don and his family vacationed annually on Helen’s beloved Prince Edward Island. Don’s love of the island grew to a point where he considered it a second home, leading he and Helen to purchase a cottage in Donaldston, PEI. His family will forever be grateful that he got to enjoy one last trip to his beloved PEI just a few weeks ago.
Don loved his family dearly and had many passions in life including maintaining a healthy lifestyle and numerous sports and activities involving the great outdoors. He was an avid hunter/fisherman and relished spending time with his best friend Paul, surrounded by nature at his camp on the lake at Huit-Chutes.
Don was a long-time member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 6 and a proud member of the First Canadian Parachute Battalion Association. He also belonged to Ste Thérèse Parish, Dieppe, the Dieppe Golden Age Club, the Dieppe Military Veterans’ Association, and the Charlottetown Benevolent Irish Society.
Don will be dearly missed.
“Airborne Forever”
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Salvation Army, Crossroads for Women Moncton, the Canadian Red Cross or any other charity.
Visitations will be held at Passage-Chartersville, 363 Amirault Street, Dieppe, NB E1A 1G1 (506) 857-1901, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 from 2pm to 4pm and 7pm to 9pm. Visitation will follow on Thursday, September 28, 2023 from 4pm to 7pm at the Belvedere Funeral Home, 175 Belvedere Ave, Charlottetown, PEI, C1A 2Y9 (902) 628-1881. Note that there will be no visitation on Friday morning. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Bonaventure RC Church, 1295 Donaldston Road, Tracadie Cross, PEI C0A 1T0, on Friday, September 29, 2023 at 10:30am.
The family invites you to sign a book of condolences online at:
www.funerairepassagefuneral.ca
Arrangements under the professional care of
Passage-Chartersville Funeral Cooperative and Cremation Center
Id like to extend my sympathy to Florine and to Lynne,Gary,Sharon and their families.May your memories of Don bring you comfort as you learn to live without him. I’m sorry, when I saw his van in the driveway, that I didn’t stop in to say Hello.
RIP Don
Dolores MacIntyre
41 Sunset Lane
MacIntyre Shore Subdivision
Sincere condolences to Don’s family and friends on his passing. Especially to my aunt Florine, is wife who adored him and to my cousins as well. Don was such a nice person! He will be missed by our family.
Love Francine
Dear Sharon and family,
It is never easy when we lose a parent no matter how young or old that they may be. You were blessed to have so many years with your dad and to think that it was just a few weeks ago that he was over to visit on PEI.
May the memories that you hold deep in your heart remind you of the love and happy times that you shared together.
Sincere sympathy to you and your family on sad time. Know that others feel your heartbreak.
Sincerely,
Bonnie
To Leslie and family. Sincere Sympathy on the passing of your Grammy Don. May memories keep Him close in your Heart.
Elayne McLaine.
Sincere condolences to
Mr. Donald Walker’s Family and friends!
Thank you Sir, for your years of Service.
R.I.P.
A mass was offered at Sainte Thérèse de l’Enfant Jésus in Dieppe, NB in memory of Don Walker, husband of Florine. Chère Florine, nous t’offrons nos sincères condoléances. Que le Seigneur t’apporte consolation dans ce moment de souffrances. Nous t’aimons. Florine, lorsque tu te sentiras capable, nous serons au Mall Champlain pour t’accueillir… et renouveller nos amitiés. Yolande et Lydia Arsenault
We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Donald.
We are very fortunate to have known him even for a short period of time. My children adored him. He is someone whom we look up to with a lot of respect and love.
We will always cherish the wonderful memories we have with him. He will be forever missed.
My deepest condolences
Very kind soul ,RIP
As I had met Don through Nicole & Jacques Richard, I wish to pass on my condolences to his family and thank him for his past service.
Thinking of Florine (mom) during this time of grief.
Sincere sympathy to The family, especially Gary, Heather and boys. Don was a great neighbour at the MacIntyre shore and we got to see him clog more than once. May he rest in peace.
My sincerest condolences to you Lynn, Florine, and your family. I have enjoyed seeing the pics of your Dad over the past 11 years enjoying his time spent with his loving family. He did have a twinkle in his eye when Florine was by his side, and how lucky was he to be with your Mom for 61 years. Your Dad on the ride on cutting the grass in his 90’s stands out, plus proudly wearing his Veteran’s blazer and sweater. Forever in your ❤️.
Wishing to extend our sympathy to Don Cheveries family at this sad time. Helen was my mom’s sister and we spent a lot of holidays between Kenogami and Montreal. Condolences to all
Dear Lynn,
We are deeply sorry for your loss. May God Bless your family.
Rest in peace Don.
The McKiernan Family
Dear Sharon, Julie and family
Sincere condolences on the passing of your father and grandfather. I have vivid childhood memories of going to his cottage on PEI and seeing his head bob over the tall grass as he danced a jig. Hold on to those lovely memories as you grieve his passing. Let the happiness you shared carry you through the difficult times ahead. Take good care of yourselves.
Sincere condolences to Florine and Family for your loss. Thinking of you during this difficult time and hoping that happy memories of Don will bring peace and comfort in the days ahead. With deepest sympathy.
Dear Sharon and family,
Sincere condolences on the loss of your father (grandfather & great-grandfather). Hope many happy memories make the sad days easier.
Kind thoughts to you all.
On behalf of the Dieppe Military Veterans Association, I wish to express our deepest sympathies and sincere condolences to Don’s family and friends for your loss.
Condolences to the family and friends of Don
Sincere sympathies to SharonGautreau and family.
Very sorry for your loss, my deepest sympathies to Sharon / Ron and rest of the family.
Very sorry for the loss of your father, Gary. Condolences to you. Heather, and all the Walker Family.