Obituary of Donald Stuart

STUART - Donald Joseph "Stu", passed away Friday, February 22, 2008 surrounded by his family, at the Brantford General Hospital in his 83rd year. "Stu" is survived by his beloved wife of 55 years Catharine "Cassie" Stuart (nee Alpaugh) and their children, Ann and Robert Lefebvre of Brantford, Donna Stuart of Brantford, Mark and Jennifer Stuart of Oakville, Phil and Chris Stuart of Brantford and Mary and Mark Anthony of Paris. "Stu" is also survived by his grandchildren: Andy (Susan) Lefebvre, Eric (Sarah) Balazs-Lefebvre, Ian Lefebvre, John, Mary-Rose and Sara Stuart, Brock and Jessica Stuart, Jacob and Faith Anthony. Stu was predeceased by one grandchild, Lee Anna Marie Lefebvre (1981). "Stu" was Uncle "Don" to many nieces and nephews in the Stuart, Ronson and Alpaugh families. He graduated from BCI and served overseas in England with the RCAF in WWII. After the war he worked in the sign, art and display business in Brantford and Detroit, starting his own business, Stu-Art Display, which operated from Wood Street, Brantford until 1972 and from Oakhill Drive in Brantford Township until "Stu's" retirement in 1988. Stu had a near life long contract to hand letter school buses at Canadian Bluebird, which continued briefly even after his retirement. In retirement "Stu" enjoyed golfing and RV camping in Michigan, Ontario and Texas, wintering in Texas for many years with a crowd of Brantford and Ontario retiree-campers. "Stu" liked to purchase a new RV Model every year whether he needed it or not. "Stu" was born at Brantford on Oct. 13, 1925, the son of Thomas and Verna Stuart. "Stu" was predeceased by his parents, his sister Margaret, his brothers Jack and Wayne, and is survived by his sister Shirley Stuart of Brantford. "Stu" was a quiet, active man with a wry sense of humour and a cartoonists view of life and his community. "Stu" never saw a tool or a gadget he didn't want to investigate. Friends will be received at the BECKETT-GLAVES FAMILY FUNERAL CENTRE, 88 Brant Avenue on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Parish Prayers will be recited at the funeral home on Friday at 8:30pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, 17 Washington Street, Paris on Saturday at 11 a.m. Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. Donations in memory of "Stu" to the Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society or the health or Catholic charity of your choice would be graciously acknowledged. A tree will be planted in memory of "Stu" in the Beckett-Glaves Memorial Forest.