Donald GOODWIN

GOODWIN, Donald Lawrence
7 March 1949 – 5 January 2014
Passed away peacefully with his loving family at his side on 5 Jan 2014 at Belleville General Hospital, the place of his birth almost 65 years ago, after a brief but valiant struggle to recover from a diabetic-related leg amputation. Predeceased by his loving parents Margaret (née Sullivan) and Grant Goodwin, and brother Patrick. Don will be greatly missed by Myrna (née Stanton), his wife of 39 years, son Jonathan, sister Mary Teresa, brother Gerard (Annette), and sister- in-law Donna Moffat (Tom). Fondly remembered by nieces & nephew Mary Kiteley (Dennis), Catherine Molloy, Patricia Struhar (Paul), Barbara Goodwin (Tony Sekulic), Stephen Goodwin, Lisa Ouellette (Don), and Patricia Turnbull; grandnieces & grandnephews Jessica, Sarah, Mitchell, Jordan, Lillianne, Michaela, Ryan and Alex; as well as many dear cousins and friends.

Don was an avid naturalist, cultivated early in life by the wonderful visits with his country relatives in the Irish hamlet of Ennismore. He loved everything Irish! Don enjoyed gardening, planting trees, and seeing the fruits of his labour. His first passion culminated in the achievement of his Class "A" Auto Mechanic's License. Being a perfectionist was evident in his lifelong passion for fine woodwork, whether in the creation of fine furniture or in the restoring of heritage properties and his friend Art's tug boat. Don's other interests included building his own log house, keeping up with local and national politics, and listening to Ontario country life stories on the radio. He also enjoyed the company of his cats. Most of all, he was a loving and devoted husband and family man. Don was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in his early 20's, but that disease didn't keep him down. He enjoyed being very active whether indoors or outdoors until just recently, when his heart became so weak that it couldn't meet the demands of his body.

The Funeral Mass for Don will be on Saturday, 24 May 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Martin of Tours Church, 513 Ennis Road, Ennismore, Ontario. Interment is to follow at St. Martin's Cemetery. If desired, donations may be made to either the Heart & Stroke Foundation or the Diabetes Association.