Obituary of Edmond Lavigne

June 10, 1972 ~ June 12, 2023

It is with profound sadness that the family of Edmond Lavigne announce his passing 2 days after his 51^st birthday.

Edmond will be forever remembered and deeply cherished by his loving sister: Elise and devoted sister-in-law: Diane; brothers by choice: Steve, Michael; as well as numerous other relatives and many, many friends.

Edmond was predeceased by his parents: Henry Lavigne & Esther Sandvad; special uncle: Alex Lavigne; brother by choice: Tony.

Celebration of Edmond’s life, Thursday, June 22, 2023 at 11:00 a.m., St. John’s United Church, Bonnyville, Alberta. Interment to be held at a later date, St. John’s United Church Cemetery, Bonnyville, AB.    

Don’t grieve for me,

For now I’m free.

I'm following the path

GOD laid for me.

I took His hand

When I heard His call

I turned my back

And left it all.

Tasks undone

Must stay that way,

I found my PEACE

At the close of the day.

Thank you everyone for being here today.  I’m Edmond’s sister, and I wanted to share this with you all.

Dear Ed,

The Golden Knights won the cup, 9-3 win over the Florida Panthers.

Also, I wanted to let you know something else.

I have known you my whole life, you are my big brother and oldest friend.  I remember us growing up how we had to work together on our farm.  You helped me feeding the cows, the calves, then chasing the cows when it was selling time.  I remember you painting the fences or the barn.  While I thought I was doing a good job painting.  You were terrible. Mom had to come behind and paint where you missed.

You took me on my first car ride with you, when we were little, you drove into a bale while I was in the back.  I am glad you never got your license.

I also knew that you were a favourite, like how our Uncle Alex would spilt the juicy fruit gum and always give you the bigger half.  I didn’t mind, well, I minded a little.  But Uncle had to put the worms on my hook when we went fishing.  I thought you were very brave to do that yourself. I hated touching them.

As we got older, I didn’t go fishing with you as much.  Uncle and you would go.  I remember the blueberries that you both picked, and the fish caught.  Uncle and you would bring in the garden, digging out the potatoes, picking the raspberries and eating the cucumbers right off the vine.

I hope you understand that I had to leave Bonnyville, I wanted to figure things out.  With Diane’s help, I was learning to be a better sister.  After dad and Uncle were gone, I wanted to show you more than the farm and Bonnyville.  I was very glad you said Yes, to go see the Blue Jays in Toronto, to see the Edmonton Oilers play against the Golden Knights in Las Vegas. You wore both hockey t-shirts for each of the teams because you didn’t want to pick between them.  I didn’t really like wrestling, but we went to see those big guys, like John Cena wrestle.  Even if I got the seats that were super close to the wrestling mat, you still looked at the jumbo-tron screen.

I always liked when you called me.  When you left a voice mail would start out ‘Hello, this is Edmond Lavigne, your brother…. Then something, something, something ‘ok, call me, this is Edmond Lavigne your brother.’  Like I didn’t know. 

When I had to figure out what was going on, your care workers would help me understand.  Between you and the people who helped you move through this world; I was glad to know what you were up too and who was there with you. 

I remember your heart being in pieces when Tony died.  Hazel told me that you really missed Tony.  She told me that she woke up early one morning to pounding sounds in your back yard.  She saw you nailing away on one of Tony’s birdhouses that he never finished.  You knew that it was almost one year exactly when Tony died, and you were making Tony’s birdhouse for him.

I remembered how you glowed, about bowling and getting strikes.  Three in a row you said.  That sometimes you were rusty, or you had good heat on that arm.  I also you remember you vacuuming or that the TV remote didn’t work but you figured it just needed new batteries.

You helped me all your life.  You saw the good in everyone, you explained to me what was happening, whether on TV, sports, or with the people around us.   Ed, you were a good man.  You were kind and thoughtful like getting the coffee, but you absolutely enjoyed kicking my butt at crazy 8.  I wish we could be us again.

I love you and I miss you, and where ever you are, I hope the popcorn and ginger ale is good there.

With all my heart,

Elise, your sister