Laura Gainey Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information

On Friday December 8, 2006, Laura Gainey, 25, daughter of Montreal Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey, was swept by a wave from the tall sailing ship Picton Castle in rough seas about 750 kilometres southeast of Cape Cod, Mass.

Laura was an advanced apprentice on the ship, having trained on it for months.

She sailed from Cape Town, South Africa to Lunenburg, N.S. in May, then trained on it while in the Great Lakes this summer. The current trip departed Lunenburg Dec. 5, headed for St. George's, Grenada.

Laura, who battled drug addiction as a teenager after her mother died of a brain tumor when Laura was barely 10, had expressed an interest in sailing as a profession.

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To the Gainey family -

Even to this day, you remain in my heart for your strength, your goodness, and your inspiration as a united family to all of us who know the heartache of the loss of a loved one.

I do not know why this life is such a severe test, too many times, for everyone of us who, in happier times, feels grateful for this wonderful gift of life we are blessed to have been given.

May you find comfort and joy in knowing that you are a beacon of...

Robby Bonfire

September 29, 2023 | Port Leyden, NY | Friend

Tellement triste. RIP. Triste également pour ton père Bob, un grand monsieur.

Alain L

December 07, 2021 | Québec, QC

I lost my son Mathieu this week to cancer. He was 42 years old. He went to Roslyn School with Laura and they were friends during elementary school. Today, I understand the pain of a parent to lose a child. You are in my thoughts.

Huguette Marchese

April 25, 2021 | Westmount, QC | Neighbor

I am a Bob Gainey fan and felt so so sad when the terrible news came out! It is now 13 years later but after having met Bob Gainey in a restaurant in Ottawa, the loss of Laura came back . What a tragic event!

Sylvie Beauchemin

December 30, 2019 | Ottawa, ON | Friend

Her smile and her love of life will live on in memormies. God bless.

Mrs. S. R.

December 27, 2006 | Ottawa, ON

To all the Gainey family i did not know Laura personally but i feel it would be right to say that as a friend of Chris’s(Lauras uncle)it is such an awful situation to be in and too loose such a vibrant young person of 25 must be such a devastating blow.God bless you all .Kevin and family.

kevin fletcher

December 24, 2006 | Wolverhampton , England

Dear family,
I do not know you but have heard of your beautiful daughters passing. I have also just lost a family member and I feel like I will never be the same person as do you all. I just wanted to say it took this small space to write this but it will take forever to forget the day you lost her. God Bless your family

Rhonda Black

December 22, 2006 | Edmonton, AB

Bless you I am So sorry My prayers houghts are with you always

Stanley Kennedy

December 22, 2006 | Montreal, QC

Dear Bob,
The words that we pray are of comfort to you are that even though you do not personally know every person sending you and your family heartfelt condolences, we all know you, and feel compelled to let you know that we want to help in any way, but we can not. The only way we can help is to keep Laura, you, and your family in our prayers.
May God bless you all and hold you close to him in this time of sadness.
Fans
Anna, Emilio, Bianca & Nicolai

Anna Colitto

December 21, 2006 | Laval, QC

Laura Gainey

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