Tribute

It is with a heavy heart & profound sadness that I announce the peaceful passing of my wonderful husband Michael Lalonde at Greenwoods on Saltspring. He was 72 years old. Michael had temporal frontal lobe dementia.

Born in Cornwall Ontario, Michael had a real zest for life. Was a very peaceful man, searching for truth & enlightenment, treating everyone with kindness & respect. Everything he did, he did well. He was an avid reader and loved all genres of music, playing the accordion and guitar. George Harrison being one of his favourite singers. He did very creative rope work for boats, making rope mats. At Expo 1967, he had a special place in the scout pavilion where he gave examples on how to make fishing flies to people visiting. He loved to paint, doing watercolours and loved his sailboat. Michael worked at Foxglove for many years when it was owned by Tom Gosset. He worked on the sea walk when they first started building it and as a cook for the Crest restaurant in town many years ago. He had his own gardening business called Sol Gardening for many years. He owned Parkside News which he ran in Grace Point Square for over 8 yrs.

He would spend all his days outside after he retired, working in the yard.

He was an avid runner & cyclist. He loved to call Saltspring his home.

Michael was predeceased by his mother Therese Marie Anna Lalonde who passed on Nov 27/ 1979.

He is survived by his loving wife of almost 47 years Alane ( Lesk ) Lalonde, loving sister Diane Proulx ( Paul ); Stepfather Charles Henri Pelletier, Aunt Ida & many nieces & nephews. Beloved brother in law to Kevin Lesk (deceased) (Bonnie); Karen Boals (Nelson) (deceased); Martin Lesk (Rose) & Raymond Lesk (Julia). A special thank you to Greenwoods & Dr Kalf who took care of Michael in his last years with great compassion & caring.