Don LANOS

LANOS, Don
Don Lanos, beloved husband, father, grandfather, passionate curler, footie fan, angler, and lover of the epic road trip, died peacefully in Ottawa on October 24, 2016 with his family by his side. Don was born on April 18, 1939 in Kingston, Ontario, spending the majority of his youth on the shores of Lake Ontario and the football fields of Regiopolis- Notre Dame, before moving to North Bay to start the next phase of his life. If indeed "all the world is a stage", it was here amongst the bitter northern winds and shad flies that he would meet his two great loves, each of whom would play his leading lady in different phases of his life. Don married his high school sweetheart, Janet (nee McCurry) in 1962, together having two sons, James (Baker Lake, Nunavut) and Michael (Ottawa) before Janet tragically lost her battle to cancer in 1966. After Janet's passing, Don remained up north, embarking on a 40-year career with Revenue Canada in Sudbury before moving to Ottawa in 1971. A bachelor for the next twenty years, Don would spend his leisure time fishing with his lifelong friend, Jimmy Kyle, curling at the RCMP Club, and immersing himself in community service, coaching and managing generations of soccer players with both the Manor Park and Ottawa Internationals Soccer Clubs. He also chose to step into the middle of the pitch for a decade of voluntary verbal abuse as a soccer referee before retiring in the 1980s. Indeed, Don was known and respected by the entire soccer community as being a fair man and a quiet but ardent supporter of amateur soccer throughout the region. He was a fixture at local games, often sitting in the stands at Mooney's Bay into the late hours, simply enjoying "the beautiful game". Someone once wrote that fate decides who comes into your life, but your heart decides who stays. And so it was that fate led Don to an unexpected reunion with his high school friend, Doris Dufrense, who would become his wife in 1987 and remain his loving companion and partner for the next thirty years, to the very moment of his passing. Their union expanded his family greatly, as he welcomed two stepsons, Michael Kelly (Tetyana), Reg Kelly (Paula) and the daughter he always wanted in Barbara Kelly (Dirk). The many grandchildren that would follow brought him unparalleled joy over the years, despite the many health challenges he would face. In a word, Don was a good man, a gentle man, and one that lived a simple philosophy of being good to others. He never demanded great attention from those around him, preferring instead to go about his life quietly but stepping to the front of the line whenever someone needed a hand. Don will be greatly missed by his wife Doris and all of his children and grandchildren, Chelsea, Caddaric, Taylor, Katherine, Sheridan, Rayna and Morgan. His spirit will live in us all for time immemorial! Friends may pay respects at
Kelly Funeral Home, Walkley Chapel,
1255 Walkley Road, Ottawa, ON K1V 6P9
613-731-1255
Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral Monday to Holy Cross Church for Mass of Catholic Funeral at 11 a.m. In memoriam contributions of masses are welcomed or donations to your local soccer organization's benevolence fund in lieu of Flowers. Condolences and sharing memories at www.kellyfh.ca