Laurence DeGraeve

Laurence DeGraeve

(Gravy)

Peacefully at the Selkirk Regional Health Centre on Sunday, October 29, 2023, Mr. Laurence DeGraeve passed away at the age of 77 years.

He leaves to mourn his wife Claire (née Messner); three children, Douglas DeGraeve, Cory DeGraeve and Tina (James) Gunning; one granddaughter Shyanna Marie; one brother Gerard (Irene) DeGraeve and by his in-laws, George VanCauwenberghe, Linda Messner, Dennis (Anna) Messner and Yvonne (Jack) Shaw, along with numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

Laurence was predeceased by his parents, Maurice and Irene DeGraeve; his in-laws, Nick and Laurette Messner; his sisters, Gerarda Devos (Marcel Cleutinx) and Laurette VanCauwenberghe; as well as his in-laws, Andrew (Gisèle) Messner, Hilda (Armel) Labossière, Edward Messner, Anita (George) Droux, Mariette (Alfred) Fortier and Remi Messner.

Laurence was a loved husband, father, grandpa, and friend to many who will be fondly remembered as Gravy and Laun.  He enjoyed a period of time farming with his dad and big brother Jerry, until he moved into carpentry and in time joined the St. Leon CO-OP where he would finish out his working career.

During his earlier years he was known to the Belgium Bowling crowd attending bowling’s, enjoying all activities, and fun associated with the weekly weekend events in the surrounding communities around Swan Lake. Another past-time he enjoyed was taking car rides on the back roads in the area to look at the fields, sometimes this was also associated with rides to the Valley or visiting the family homesteads just to see what was going on or what had changed. He also enjoyed sports, though his younger years, it was all Belgium bowling and was an active curler in his time. Later in life, when he slowed down, you would often find him at home watching sports, all sports and would get up at any time of the night if needed to watch his sports. Or you would find him on his back deck at his home in Somerset, and enjoyed all the visits from family and friends who would stop by to say hi. 

Funeral Services will be held at Adam’s Funeral Home on Friday, November 3, 2023 at 1:00 pm with Recitation of the Rosary at 12:30.  Interment to follow in the Somerset Parish Cemetery.

The service will be available to view via Live Streaming. If you would like your name to appear in the guestbook please email your name to office@afh.ca

Memorial donations can be made to CancerCare Manitoba, www.cancercarefdn.mb.ca

Adam’s Funeral Home of Notre Dame de Lourdes, Manitoba in care of arrangements.  Phone 204-248-2201.  To view the service details and leave condolences, please visit www.afh.ca

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