Saturday, March 25, 2023
In loving memory of my daughter, our sister and our mom; Lavena Lynn Dumont
Born to Patrica and Lorne, on Sept 20, 1975 a feisty little blond with soft brown eyes who made her own rules for the life she lived. Mom always shook her head and say that Lavena was trouble right from the start to the very end and give a big sigh. Oh Lavena gave mom grief and was up a lot of nights worrying about her, but would give anything for one last kiss and hug to her daughter she loved so much. Lavena was head strong and willful in all her years growing up to her last day on earth.
Everyone in her family has their own version of how they saw Lavena, of how they interacted with her and loved her. We can however all agree she was strong willed, had a strong personality, a little stubborn, determined when she wanted something and smart as a whip. Lavena wasn’t one to mince words, it’s like she didn’t have the patience for any thing other than truths, she knew what her flaws and demons were and did not try to hide them, but chose to hide herself away so her family did not have to see her deal with her demons.
With all this being said, boy when she smiled, she smiled big, and laughed hard when she was with family and close friends. Those are the times we would like to remember her by and will, she loved her mom fully, wholeheartedly and unconditionally. Lavena would post on Facebook of how mama bear was over having coffee and a visit with her or how she was going to make a nice supper for her mom and sometimes aunty, or how mama was going to her place to have a sleep over with her and Tiny and watch movies all night. Lavena loved and cherished those moments with her mom, we all knew this.
Along with her mom and sons, she loved Tiny, her furbaby like no other. Tiny had the same personality as Lavena; feisty and if you mess around with her, you would get nipped in the ankles too, so you better be aware. She will miss Tiny so much.
When birthdays came around, she would call us and wish us a happy birthday, tell us she loved us and wanted to wish us the best day ever even when it sometimes wasn’t reciprocated.
We all have a lot of memories growing up but I think all the siblings would agree they are about the same, here are a few:
Camping during summer, spending endless days swimming in the lake, playing with each other because that’s all we had, was each other. We fished daily, our mom cooking fish on the open fire, or us kids, cooking hotdogs when we got hungry. When the day was winding down, we would get ready to get in our tent all 6 of us would sleep in and mom and dad got in their own tent. We would wake up the next day smelling brewed coffee over the fire and our mom making breakfast for us and hearing our dad chopping wood.
Christmas was also a big event in our lives growing up. Our mom and dad made sure we all received gifts, the older kids got sleds, undies, socks and oranges while Lavena, Char and Tina got toys, sleds, undies, socks and of course oranges. There are so many pictures mom has of all of us kids gathered around the living room opening our gifts making sure we were all happy. Then she and dad would make us a big breakfast to last us until the Turkey supper she spent all day preparing. All of us kids were so happy these days. There were pictures of Lavena always smiling, looking at everyone else, to see if they were smiling and happy. She had mom and dad and us and we had her and that was all that mattered to us kids.
The day Aaron was born, Aug 1, 1993 was a very special day for her and Danny, her common law spouse. Wow, what a day that was, while overwhelmed having a baby while only being 17 herself, she felt so much joy. Aaron was the first for all of us, their first son, our first nephew, and first grandson. Lavena and Danny lived in Edmonton so not close to family to offer support her, she would call her mom and dad and ask them to take Aaron for a while so she can get some much needed rest. Of course, we would jump in the car, travel to Edmonton, pick up Aaron and head back to Lloydminster for a couple of weeks until his mom and dad came to get him. Aaron was always so happy to see his mom and dad. Lavena always said that since Aaron travelled that highway from Lloydminster to Edmonton so much that at 1 years old, he could navigate his own way to mama and papas if he could.
The next great joy of her life was the birth of Daniel Lorne, on Nov 24, 1995. Another sparkle came to light in her eye when Daniel was born. Lavena and Danny were already on their way back to Lloyd to call home so there was a lot of help for Lavena, especially mama and papa who were probably over there everyday to pick up their grandkids. There was also an uncle and 4 aunties waiting to get their turn to hold the new baby and play with Aaron.
Lavena has love in her heart for her boys and always will have. Lavena has had a lot of friends in her life, and she would want us to mention her long time, lasting forever and always friend: Danny Imbeau
She always said to her family and her boys; ‘Oh Danny, he is always there for me when I need him, he is a good dad to those boys, myself and the boys are so grateful that he is in our lives.’ She would say this with joy on her face and always with a smile. Regardless of where life took Lavena and Danny, they always understood each other, they remained friends through it all.
Another two good friends in her life was Alyce Hayward and Rex Harris, her two cohorts who Lavena got in trouble with in her middle years and high school years and well after. Her family would like to thank Alyce and Rex for being a good friend to Lavena, she will miss you dearly.
In closing, Lavena will be sadly missed by her sons Aaron and Daniel, her mom, Patricia, her sisters: Lorna, Lisa, Tina and Charlene and her furbaby Tiny. We know that her brother Shawn is waiting for her to welcome her to a place where there is no pain and demons to be had. She will finally have her peace she desperately wanted and needed.
Until we meet again Lavena, watch over our brother as he will watch over you. When it is our time, we will find each other and our hearts will be full once again.
Love your family forever and always!
