Plant a tree in memory of Donald Peter "Don"
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5 tree(s) planted in memory of Donald Peter "Don" Swanson
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Carmen planted 3 trees in memory of Donald Peter "Don" Swanson
Monday, April 10, 2023
3 trees were planted in memory of
Donald Peter "Don" Swanson
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Don, love of my life. You shall always be in my heart forever. Love you with all my heart, Join in honoring their life - plant a memorial tree
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Carmen uploaded photo(s)
Sunday, May 14, 2023
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Don and I visiting the Italian homestead during the holidays.
Always homemade flavorful Italian food, "ottimo vino" homemade, stories of the old country, vivid recounts of WWII, and occasionally Don could get in his stories of out west and/or his childhood. Always plenty of laughter, good cheer and love despite language barriers.
Rest in peace zio and Don.
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Carmen uploaded photo(s)
Sunday, April 16, 2023
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Don’s collage of his immediate family tree beautifully put together.
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Carmen uploaded photo(s)
Saturday, April 15, 2023
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Don proud of Kris at a tender age.
A great soul serves
everyone all the time.
A great soul never dies.
It brings up together
again and again.
---Maya Angelou
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Carmen uploaded photo(s)
Saturday, April 15, 2023
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Don's early years.....
1. the real Gerber baby..... guess "Swanson" didn't fit on the label
2. lovingly held by Mrs. Swanson at a tender age
3. as a toddler on his first tractor...... mechanics were always in his life
4. Don on the farm
5. on the way out west to Saskatchewan with Mrs. Swanson
6. 1964 - out camping with Ann and Bud
7. At Christmas with new baby sister Carol on his lap
For you Cousin Eddy!
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Carmen uploaded photo(s)
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
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Mrs. Swanson helped ingrain the love of horses to her children .... Don cherished horses and riding, with son Kris, with bestie Mike, alone, with sister Carol
When the Riding's Done
You know I'll always ride here
even when my riding's done
In the whisper of the pre-dawn
or the final burst of sun
At the corners of transition
where the changes are obscured
I will ride and if you see me
it's because our love endured
You know I'll never leave you
even when I'm far away
In the moments when the words stop
and your breath gets in the way
I will softly say I love you
barely louder than the breeze
So I hope you gently listen
to my voice between the trees
You know I'll try to hold you
even when my arms can't grasp
Just to try to bring you comfort
when your throat lets out a gasp
The feelings that we share here
will transcend just what we see
And my horse will still be waiting
right beneath our favorite tree
You know you are forever
but it's easy when we're here
Just a hand away from holding
and a hug away from fear
So you have to make a promise
that your hope will never run
And you know I'll always ride here
even when my riding's done
-------Poetry by J.P. Gerham
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Carmen uploaded photo(s)
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
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One of Don's proudest moments .... being guided into and holding the head stand (Sirsasana) by himself. Proving to himself that he could do anything he set his mind and body to.
Way to go Don!
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Carmen uploaded photo(s)
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
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RETIREMENT INDEED!
Trip to Costa Rica for Don's 65th birthday.
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Carmen uploaded photo(s)
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
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Don’s passion for martial arts started early on which later snowballed into Tai Chi, yoga, and meditation. We went to a silent meditation retreat back in 2009 for a weekend, I thought we would bust we wanted to talk and laugh so badly. We left on the Saturday before we got kicked out and agreed to revisit another time when we grew up.
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Carmen posted a symbolic gesture
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
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Carmen Vertolomo uploaded photo(s)
Monday, April 10, 2023
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Dear and close friend Ewen visiting Kris at the Ponderosa.
Both grew up in Burlington and once they formed a bond, have been inseparable, through thick and thin, despite distance, or circumstances. Ewen can recount many childhood stories on Homewood Avenue, some outrageous, some delinquency, some just caring families looking out for each other; most importantly, the handsome pair always had each other's back. Acting like brothers all along their journey.
Thanks Ewen!
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Carmen Vertolomo uploaded photo(s)
Sunday, April 9, 2023
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Here's a card dear to Don's heart which he kept as this card resonated with his views on life:
Don't fly too high; too far; too fast.
There's magic here below:
Enchantment in the summer grass;
Splendor in the snow;
Wonder in a spider's web;
Treasures on the sand;
Miracles unfolding on every bit of land.
Come and see them! This is Life!
This is what you are!
This sea, this air, this earth, this light:
This blue and perfect star.
Thank you, my love
Carmen
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Carmen Vertolomo uploaded photo(s)
Sunday, April 9, 2023
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Trying to keep warm in Simmie, Saskatchewan during our visit out west on an western tour of Canada. Visiting Don's grand parents town which his family would visit most summers in the 1950s.
Fun! Fun! Fun!
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Carmen Vertolomo uploaded photo(s)
Sunday, April 9, 2023
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Don with Cousin Eddy during an impromptu visit out west with grandson Haiden and Bruno (approximately 4 years ago).
Don was elated that he finally got to visit and spend time with Cousin Eddy, well overdue.
I would always be called over to Don's desk when he found new postings from Cousin Eddy of photos and accompanying blurbs of dear family members and/or historical scenes. Don always admired Cousin Eddy's real flair for preserving the memory of years gone by (something that sadly cell phone photos are slowly but surely obliterating).
I'm sure Don would agree when I say: Keep up the great work Cousin Eddy!
Thank you.
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Carmen Vertolomo uploaded photo(s)
Sunday, April 9, 2023
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Don at a tender age, with father Bud holding him.
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Carmen Vertolomo uploaded photo(s)
Sunday, April 9, 2023
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Posing for the last time on Don's Harley Davidson, before Kris took it over and brought back to BC. Of course, Bruno is always the poser.... Mr. Hollywood himself.
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Carmen Vertolomo uploaded photo(s)
Sunday, April 9, 2023
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Don pretending to be Mick Jagger's/Rolling Stones' emblem. Good show!
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Carmen Vertolomo uploaded photo(s)
Sunday, April 9, 2023
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From motorcycle at the age of 15 to e-bike at the age of 72, Don relished his adventures on wheels.
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Ilona and Ewen planted a tree in memory of Donald Peter "Don" Swanson
Sunday, April 9, 2023
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"Donald Peter "Don" Swanson" will remain in our hearts forever. Join in honoring their life - plant a memorial tree
Please wait
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Carmen Vertolomo posted a symbolic gesture
Sunday, April 9, 2023
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Carmen Vertolomo uploaded photo(s)
Sunday, April 9, 2023
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Many people have been asking me how did you meet Don. The answer to this is BED BUGS. Yes, you read that right.... bed bugs. How did they get us together. Simple, we were corresponding by email for many weeks, flirting, discovering each other, and being enchanted, when after a trip to Montreal (my home town) I found bed bugs in my apartment at the time. I was boiling clothes like a witch stirring a brew over a caldron, boiling for 1/2 hour at a time anything I could put my hands on. Of course because I was so busy with the situation, I was not as attentive to emailing Don, so he asked me "what was wrong?" (as he sensed something was not right). I thought to myself, well I need to tell him about this calamity: if he is half a man, he will see my response, and hit delete button on his site. If he is a real man, he will understand. So I responded "Bed Bugs". and hit send.
I waited, and waited, and waiting for hours (while packing up boiled/cleaned clothes in bags). Low and behold later that night I received the sweetest email ensuring me that I shouldn't worry, they can be overcome and some helpful hints from his days working at Cranbrook Pest Control. He had seen many cases, and therefore was well versed on how to proceed. After reading that encouraging and uplifting email, I decided this was a man I wanted to meet.
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Lexi Swanson uploaded photo(s)
Thursday, April 6, 2023
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Carol Zinszer uploaded photo(s)
Thursday, April 6, 2023
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Lexi Swanson uploaded photo(s)
Thursday, April 6, 2023
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A Memorial Tree was planted for Donald Peter "Don" Swanson
Thursday, April 6, 2023
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We are deeply sorry for your loss ~ the staff at Sifton Funeral Home Join in honoring their life - plant a memorial tree
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The family of Donald Peter "Don " Swanson uploaded photo(s)
Thursday, April 6, 2023
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The family of Donald Peter "Don " Swanson uploaded photo(s)
Thursday, April 6, 2023
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The family of Donald Peter "Don " Swanson uploaded photo(s)
Thursday, April 6, 2023
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The family of Donald Peter "Don" Swanson uploaded a photo
Thursday, April 6, 2023
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