Obituary of Gloria Lazzarin

GLORIA LAZZARIN

April 14, 1930 – February 25, 2019

After suffering from chronic pain for several years, Gloria Lazzarin (nee Hryciuk) passed away peacefully in her sleep on February 25, 2019.  She was 88.

Gloria is survived by son Jay Lazzarin (Janice Lazzarin), daughters Theresa Conn, Darcy Lazzarin, Celia Lazzarin (Greg Lewis), grandchildren Jeremy Lewis, Lydia Lazzarin, Martin Lazzarin, and Michael Lewis.  Additionally, she leaves behind her beloved sister Joyce Janzen and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mom was predeceased by her husband John Lazzarin with whom she spent 58 wonderful years.  She is also predeceased by her brother Lawrence Hryciuk and son-in-law Richard Conn.

Mom was born in Sprit River, Alberta.  As a child, she and her family lived in several different communities around Alberta and BC.  She loved the community of Quesnel where she moved with her family in 1948 while still a Grade 12 student.  She worked for a few years as a “girl Friday” at Winder and Fleming, a real estate insurance office. 

She met John Lazzarin at a Firemen’s Klondike Night in 1948.  Following a three year courtship, they were married on August 4, 1951 and shared a life full of laughter, fun, parties, and lots of love until John passed away in 2009.

Mom was a passionate volunteer who strongly believed in giving back to her community.  Besides being a housewife and mother to her four children, she found time to become involved in local politics.  She served 11 years as a City of Quesnel councilor and 6 years as a Cariboo Regional District director after moving to Ten Mile Lake.  She was honoured as Citizen of the Year in 1996.  In 2013 she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and in 2015 she was the Honourary Parade Marshall for Billy Barker Days.

Mom’s community advocacy initiatives included:  helping establish the Quesnel Unit for Emergency Short Stay treatment (QUEST); acting as a founding member of the Quesnel Community Foundation and Friends of the Library; and being an active volunteer with Palliative Care, the Auxiliary to GR Baker Memorial Hospital and the Red Hat Society.

She accomplished much and we are all so proud of her.  She will be sorely missed but we are glad that she’s at peace.

Funeral service to be held Saturday, April 6, 2019 at 11:00 am at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Father Andrew L’Heureux officiating, to be followed by a reception at St. Ann’s Hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gloria’s memory to:  Quesnel Community Foundation, Box 4158, Quesnel, BC V2J 3J2.

The family gratefully thanks Dr. Barry Hagen and the staff of Birchview Residence in Prince George for their care and compassion.  Additionally, we are grateful for the gentle care provided by Dr. Judy Dercksen and the staff of Maeford Place in Quesnel.