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It is with heavy hearts that our family announce the unexpected passing of Ralph Owen Lund at the Moncton Hospital on Monday April 24th, 2023, at the age of 87. Predeceased by his wife and soulmate Lavetta by only 9 short weeks on Feb 16th, 2023.
Born in Moncton, N.B. on Feb 29th, 1936, he was the seventh child, (sixth son) of Linus U Lund and Annie E (Cameron) Lund.
Ralph was a long time member of St Bernard’s and St-Augustine’s Roman Catholic churches. He retired from the CNR after a 35 year career where he perfected washing dishes from his time on the trains, followed by several years walking the tracks counting box cars, after which he moved inside where he sharpened his pencil showing his mathematical skills as an accounting clerk until he retired in 1993. Well known for his athleticism, a natural at every sport he tried but excelling at ball and his beloved hockey that he played until the age of 68. His tenacity and talent earned him the nickname “DIGGER”. Beyond a player he spent many hours volunteering as both a hockey and a softball coach. Family adventures always included a box filled with baseball bats and gloves in the summer or skates and hockey sticks in the winter. In his later years, following or watching his grandchildren through their sporting activities was a source of connection that allowed him to combine his passions with his sense of pride in them all. After many outings with his wife, he learned to appreciate time spent picking berries, fiddleheads, or in the flower and vegetable gardens but most surprising was his transition to a bird enthusiast which eventually provided a memory of the wild blue jays eating shelled peanuts directly from his hand.
Ralph will be deeply missed by his treasured children Beverly (Roy), Darlene (Kevin), Darren (Suzanne) and Heather; his nine cherished grandchildren: Meaghan (Carl), Nicholas, Janelle (Rick), Jillian, Melanie, Amanda (Joe), Brittany, Courtney and Sarah; and his 5 precious great-grandchildren: Madison, Reid, Theodore, Sloane and Myles. He leaves behind three sister-in laws Madge Lund (late Bazil), Sheila Lund (late Cameron) and Ilene Cox (late Garfield), several nieces and nephews and all those who had the pleasure of knowing him.
He was the last surviving member of his immediate family, having been predeceased by his parents Linus and Annie, his brothers Urban, Walter (late Lenore), mere weeks ago Gerald (late Maureen), Harold, Peter and Elroy; his sisters Marie and Beverly, as well as his sister-in-law Audrey (late Murray Long) and a niece Katherine Ells.
The family would like to express our sincere appreciation for the kind and compassionate care provided by the staff of the emergency department and the family medicine unit of the Moncton Hospital. Despite how ill he had become in his last weeks, they will remember him for his wit and sense of humour.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Passage Funeral Co-Operative and Cremation Centre
There will be a visitation on Monday May 1st, 2023 from 6-9 pm held at Passage Funeral Cooperative, 625 Mountain Road, Moncton, NB, E1C 2P1, 506-855-1145. The funeral mass will be held at St-Bernard’s Roman Catholic Church, on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. with Father C Broderick officiating. Reception to follow in the church basement, all are welcome. Interment will be determined at a later date. Please note we ask that both visitation and funeral mass are scent free.
Online condolences can be made at www.funerairepassagefuneral.ca
In kindness, donations to the Alzheimer Society, Kidney Foundation or the memorial of the donor’s choice in his memory would be appreciated by the family.
My deepest condolences and sympathies to the family and close friends.
We have known Ralph for the past 15 years as his direct neighbour, I have so many fond memories of him and in my mind and heart he will always be in the backyard watching those birds and having friendly chitchats. Rest in peace Ralph, your presence on earth will be greatly missed.
To the family – Let us know if there is anything we can do during this difficult period. We are thinking of you all.
Hugs,
Beverly & John
Our deepest condolences to all the Lund families for the loss of your dear father, our thoughts and prayers are with you during these difficult times. We will miss your father and mother dearly since we have been good neighbors for at least fifty years. Ralph May You Rest In Peace 🙏🙏🙏
What a great man he was! Well written obituary. condolences to his family .
We are so, so saddened to hear of the passing of Ralph. I (Janet-Rose) remember well “Hockey Night in Canada” on Saturday nights, all the guys gathered in the basement with your dad. I took great delight in sending him a birthday card each year, especially when it was a Leap Year! I was so pleased that I got to see him again after all these years and to introduce him to Stephen.
We are disappointed that we are out of the province and will not be able to make it back in time to attend his funeral. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you at this most difficult of times, with you and all your family members.
Hugs to you and your siblings, Janet-Rose and Stephen
Our deepest sympathies to you and your family Darren on the sudden loss of your father.
Great man. Amazing family. At church the Lunds were a presence. Often in many neighborhoods kids would gather a team and someone would ask who was the other side: “…the Lunds” was often the response. Condolences to the family.
We have such wonderful childhood memories of summer vacations with your father, mother and our entire NB Lund clan.
Our deepest condolences to your family on the loss of Uncle Ralph and Aunt Lavetta from your Ontario cousins. Hugs and lots of love.
Heather
I’m so very sorry about the loss of your sweet dad. He would always take time to chat w my dad at Ken Spencer’s when visiting your mom. They would talk about their CNR days and of course about ball and hockey! Your dad was an amazing man and loved your mom so much. I’m sorry you are facing such awful sorrow so close together. Please lean into your family and watch for the signs they will leave you … and they will!
Love and hugs Janet (Crawford) Ross
Just sitting here feeling very grateful for the amazing family we have had the privilege and joy of being a part of. Our Uncles-Ralph, Walter, Bazil, Harold, Elroy, Peter, Cameron, along with our Dad, Gerald, and our Aunt Marie (Urban and Beverly who we never knew), made up the most unique group (individually and together) of love, support and just “reveling in family .” Ralph and the boys happily together, poking at each other physically and verbally while hanging out at the beaches in NB and PEI or at Bazil’s cottage created great memories for us. Them sitting on a couch with all of their long legs stretched out is another great visual!! They had a great sense of humor and we always felt so loved and important when we visited from Ontario. Collectively, it was by way of funny sarcasm, and individually it was with warm kindness and generous welcome and accommodation. They loved their sister Marie and treated her with great respect. She adored each of them and it was so easy to see why. They suffered great losses with Urban and Beverly gone so young, but soldiered on as a family under the solid foundation provided by Linus and Annie, our amazing grandparents who built this wonderful and inclusive legacy. We ended up with the most amazing Aunts-Lavetta, Lee, Madge, Sheila and my Mom, Maureen. The entire group and our huge family of cousins are locked in our hearts forever. Ralph is famous for breaking a window at our house in Ontario years ago while visiting and playing ball in the backyard. It’s a good story, but he will be remembered for far more than that. We loved him, his joking ways and the animated way in which he carried on!! His children, who we adore, will miss him terribly I know, and our hearts go out to them and their families as they see him off to join Lavetta and the rest of the gang.
Sincere condolences to Ralph’s immediate and extended family. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers as you mourn his passing. May your many happy memories be a comfort to you as you grieve his loss. I have fond memories of Ralph and his siblings (my cousins) visiting the old family home on the Afton Road in PEI.
Helen Lund-Trainor
Ralph’s first cousin, daughter of his uncle Leo, and sister to Rita Arsenault
Sending our condolances on the recent passing of Ralph. We miss seeing him every afternoon saundering down the hall at Spencers to see his Sweetheart Lavetta. Their love was strong and we knew family was very special to them both. We had some great chats about the Birchmount gang and neighbors we knew between the Esson and Lund families. I learned tonight from my Dad that he and Ralph played Bantam hockey together on the ice at Tannery place, Dad shared your father was much better than him. Find comfort in knowing they are reunited now and I’m sure tending the gardens in heaven together. Vicky (Esson) O’Connor (Clerk at Spencer Home)
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The Lund Family,
We send our condolences since reading about the loss of your father. Always enjoyed our chats with him. May he RIP.
So sorry to hear this, Sending our deepest sympathy to the family & friends of Ralph. From the garage Roger B’s Automotive in which we had the pleasure of having Ralph as our customer.
Our deepest condolences to Darren & Suzanne and Lund Family. You are in our thoughts and prayers.