Marcel Joseph Laverdure

With his family by his side, Marcel Joseph Laverdure passed away peacefully on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2006 at the Dryden Regional Hospital in Dryden, Ont.
Marcel was born June 17, 1921 in Rainy River, Ont. to Isreal and Dorothy Laverdure. He was united in marriage to Muriel Anderson in 1945.
He was predeceased by his parents; his wife, Muriel in 1977; brothers, Phil, Leo, Emil, Lorne, and Fred; and sisters, Lidia Martin, Julia Doyle, Alma Costello, Ida Kruger, Yvonne Ostman, and Louise Duncan.
He is survived by his sister, Louella LaFrance of International Falls, Mn.; sons, Fred (Sheryl) of Fort Frances, Ont. and Ken of Thunder Bay, Ont.; and daughter, Connie Bell of Dryden, Ont.
Also surviving are his grandchildren, Lisa Shields, Laurie Laverdure, Ryan Laverdure, Marnie Cormier, Justin Bell, and Scott Bell; and great-grandchildren, Adam and Savannah Shields, Travis Bittner, Jacob and Owen Cormier, Emma and Abby Bell, and Gabi and Anna Peters.
Marcel owned and operated M&M Taxi in the early 1950s. Later he captained a tug boat towing logs to the Dryden paper mill until retirement. His interests included hunting, fishing, blueberry-picking, and gathering firewood.
He was an avid gardener and a colourful story-teller. Marcel also enjoyed having his family around him.
A celebration of Marcel’s life will be held Thursday, Oct. 19, 2006 at 11 a.m. at First United Church in Dryden, with Mr. Greg McKee officiating.
Interment in the Dryden Cemetery will follow a reception at the church.
The pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be his several nephews and grandsons.
There will be visitation and prayers on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2006 at 5 p.m. at Stevens Funeral Home (“Moffat Chapel”).
If friends desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the Dryden Regional Hospital Palliative Care Unit through the Stevens Funeral Home “Moffat Chapel,” P.O. Box 412, Dryden, Ont., P8N 2Zl.