Lawrence S. Hamende

1929 ~ 2023

Lawrence Sidney Hamende of Beausejour, MB passed away Friday, April 21, 2023 at age 93.  He was born August 31, 1929 in Makinak, MB to Laurent and Florence (Hodges) Hamende.  He was predeceased by his son Michael in 2019, his brother George and his very close cousins Edith, Albert and Don Garton.  He is survived by his wife of almost 69 years Helen (Moger), his son Larry (Judy) Hamende, daughter Cheryl (Bob Shaw) and daughter-in-law Shelley Hamende.  He is also survived by his grandchildren, Michelle Shaw (Todd Letwin), Stacey Walker (Kyle Kowerko), Valerie Ekelund (Travis), Tyler Hamende (Rebecca), and Kristina Logue (Dave Kernahan);  great-grandchildren, Eric (Calsy), Devin, Carter, Chloe, Jaxxon, Franklin, Evan, Cody, and Kynlee;  great-great-grandchildren, triplets Arielle, Finley and Jaxon; sister-in-law, Lynne and nieces, Janet (Donna) and Carrie.  Also surviving are his close cousins, Muriel Garton, and her children, Alvin Garton (Karen), Barbara (Russell Pedneault), Larry Garton (Beverley), and cousin Ken Hodges (Lynn) and their respective families.

Lawrence started his training on the job with the Manitoba Telephone System in May of 1949 as a general laborer.  He went on to become an LSIR, a line station installer and repairman.  Lawrence and Helen were married on July 31, 1954 and his career took him and his family to Somerset, The Pas, Gladstone and finally to Beausejour in 1959, which  became a permanent posting.

Lawrence retired in June of 1985 after a 36 year career with MTS, becoming a member of the Manitoba Telephone System Pioneers.  After Lawrence reached his 90^th birthday in August of 2019, he was proud to announce that he had reached his goal of collecting his pension just as long as he had worked.  He surpassed that goal by three and a half years.  Lawrence and Helen loved to travel and camp, spending a month or two for a few winters on Vancouver Island.  They traveled to Alaska and the East Coast.

Lawrence was an active volunteer in Beausejour and area hockey.  He was a long time executive with both the Beavers and Comets Hockey Clubs.  He spent many Saturdays downstairs in the equipment room in the old arena, handing out uniforms and goalie equipment.  Lawrence was the Minor Hockey Player Registrar for the entire eastern region.  He was also one of the volunteers that fundraised and constructed the South End Playground that was originally where Stony Plains is now located.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at Sobering Funeral Chapel, 1035 Park Avenue E., Beausejour with Rev. Susan Tilleman presiding.  Those who wish to partake of the service from their vehicles may do so in the Sobering parking lot by tuning their radio to 98.1 FM.

Donations can be made, if you wish, to the Michael Hamende Memorial Minor Hockey Fund (Brokenhead River Community Foundation) or the Manitoba Kidney Foundation.

www.soberingfuneralchapel.com

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