Clarence Blaseckie passed, quietly and peacefully, in his room at the Broadmead Lodge. An Island boy, he was born early in the spring of 1936 to Pearl and Nicholas Blaseckie. His first years of life were spent in a logging camp somewhere west of Campbell River.

His boyhood was spent on Oyster Bay, days filled with equal measures hard work, love and music. One boyhood friend, Dave, still remembers a cabin they built from salvaged wood. The breakwater, made from scuttled ships, provided them ample imagination and construction materials.

The sudden death of Nicholas put Clarence into the role of main breadwinner for the family. He managed to juggle the home chores, a part-time job, music lessons and high school to the amazement of absolutely no one who knew him. When faced with any challenge, Clarence could be counted on to take it all in stride with a shrug and a smile.

The part-time job at the local paper led to a career as a printer. In 1958, printing took him and his new bride, Joyce, all the way to Banff, Alberta. Their first years of wedded bliss involved important lessons like don’t bake a cake when the presses downstairs were running and that cage in the back yard is to keep the kids in and bears out.

Some lessons are easier than others. It didn’t take long before Rose Anne was born and then Mark came along to keep his big sister company. Heather made her Banff debut 3 years later.

The family returned to the island to settle down for good in Victoria. The house on Richmond Road was perfect for the growing family. Perfect for a garden, several fruit trees and endless adventures in lawn care for the kids. And room for one more heart to love. The family won the lottery when Scott came into the home and completed their family portrait.

After 21 years as a printer Clarence decided to close that chapter in his life. While he decided on the next step, he worked as a temporary labourer at the Coast Guard to keep his family in potatoes.

A summer as his brother-in-law Ken’s deckhand introduced Clarence to the other great passion in his life, trolling for salmon on the wild Pacific coast. Once again he tackled this new pursuit with determination and rapidly became known as the skipper to follow to find fish.

When the season was trimmed to the point it could no longer support his family, Clarence turned to the Coast Guard where he’d worked every winter between salmon runs. There was no problem finding year round work in the fabrication shop for their longest temporary term worker. Keith Clark worked alongside Clarence and remained a friend long after both had retired.

When the fishing ended, Clarence took up his starring role as father-in-law and Grandpa. He found wealth beyond measure in every grandchild he held, every golden second spent reading to them, singing to them and listening to them laugh. There was no music he loved more than the laughter of a baby.

This is the final picture of him, how he would most like to be remembered, reading to his grandchildren, shining with love for his family.

The family would like to thank the amazing staff at Veterans Memorial Lodge for their care and attention to Clarence. It was a blessing to know he was getting the best care possible during those last months.

Clarence did not want any formal service. There are plans to gather in the summer with friends and family to remember him and celebrate his life. Mark is creating an online tribute page below. Please visit and share some of your memories of Clarence and favourite photos.

Predeceased by sisters Annie and Betty, he is survived by Olga, Peter (Therese), Doreen (Ken Erikson) and Vicki (Bill Thomson) plus the many nieces and nephews who share memories of their time with Clarence.

In Victoria, he leaves the love of his life, Joyce, his children Rose Anne (Donald Moss), Mark (Maureen), Heather (Dave Shortill) and Scott (Jen Kirk).

He is survived by the grandchildren who completed the final chapters of his life Terrance (Jess Hawkins), Nicole, Melissa, Rachael, Owen and James.

Donations in his memory can be made to those you feel are most in need. The Alzheimer Association and the Heart and Stroke Foundation are part of Clarence’s story.

Most of all, be generous with your time to friends, family and strangers. Give what you can out of love, not obligation.

Raise a glass and tell a joke. Sing a song, go for a walk or a swim. Feel the sun on your face and find comfort in the wealth of memories he left us. That is Clarence.