1967 ~ 2022
It is said that in the end we are all just stories. In the early afternoon on the 12th of July, 2022, Rene Alfred Chevrefils finished writing his wonderful story, peacefully at the age of 54. He began his tale during a beautiful autumn evening on the 24thof September, 1967. He wasn’t alone in writing his story. He met a girl, fell in love and made Lynn (nee Lazaruk) his wife. She was by his side as he wrote his final chapter. Their life together brought them many joys and wonders, not the least of which was their lovely daughter Alissa (Kody), and their venturesome son Jacob.
Rene grew up in a house filled with love and adventure. Whether he was spending time learning about growing plants in the greenhouse with his parents Sylvio and Jeannette, or by exploring the fields and forests of Broadlands with his brothers Paul (Andrea) Tourond and Marcel (Heather), or by spending time with his sisters Lise and Sylvie (Stephan) Cooper, he approached all he did with his unique brand of mischievousness and sense of fun.
As he grew into a man and started a new chapter with his bride, their individual stories became one. This introduced a host of new characters such as Lynn’s parents Gene and Susan Lazaruk, and sister Joanne (Sheldon) Gesell, who enriched the storyline. As time went on and more chapters were written other characters were introduced to Rene’s story including nephews Tyler Krenz and Davis Gesell, nieces Celine Tourond, Gillian Gesell, and Gabrielle Cooper.
At the age of 17, like many others in Pine Falls, he began his career in the paper mill where he would learn the trade that would lead him on to many other adventures. After the mill closed, with a pipefitter’s ticket in his pocket, he took his skills on the road to places like Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and later Tanco Mines, a place he loved to work and where he became part of a work family that treated him with nothing but care and respect through the last pages of his story.
The hero of this tale enjoyed being surrounded by friends and family and loved small town living. Small town living is what got him involved with things like the local baseball team called “The Brew Crew” which is where his and Lynn’s love story began. They wrote their story together for 28 years, almost 26 of which were married. Their best stories are on the waters of the Winnipeg and Bear Rivers. They were only a glance away from the beauty and tranquility of a sunrise over the water, where Rene would sit and relax and enjoy all that nature had to offer to him. Sunset often found him on his boat with Lynn and their dog Lily by his side as they enjoyed quiet summer evenings.
Rene had many passions, not the least of which were his vegetable garden and yard – the skills he learned as a young boy served him well in later chapters. He treasured moments like those with his daughter Alissa on boat rides, and fishing with his son Jake. Rene cherished the time spent with his children. They made his story so bright and alive. He also enjoyed traveling, whether to Europe to visit his brother, or to Las Vegas with his wife. The trips that he loved the most, though, were those with Lynn, Alissa, and Jake when they visited Disney in Florida. Being with his family and surrounded by their love was the most important thing to him.
The villain of this story appeared in December of 2021 when Rene was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Our hero and this villain battled hard for nearly eight months. This leads us to the 12th of July where Rene found himself in the compassionate care of Dr. Prematilake, Dr. Dawe, the nurses and staff at Selkirk Cancer Care and Selkirk General Hospital. It is here where Rene finished writing his story. We will remember and we will tell his story as long as we can, which has been the point all along. In the end, we are all just stories.
We will write the epilogue to his story with a Celebration of Life on Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 2:30pm at Sobering Funeral Chapel and Crematorium, 1035 Park Avenue East, Beausejour, Manitoba.
Rene would like to get the last laugh on Cancer, and you can help him by donating to Cancer Care Manitoba in his memory.
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Kyle olsen
I’m so sorry for your loss, for all of you. May he rest in paradise and be without any pain. I did not know him but from what is written of him he was full of life and an amazing father and husband. God bless.
Kim Giesbrecht
Our most sincere condolences. May time help your hearts heal and your memories last forever. Love and hugs to all at this most difficult time..
Shirley & Kim Giesbrecht, Garett, Shane
Johanne Marin
I am sooo sorry for your lose, sending my prayers and love your way ❤️
Jill
My Most Sincere Condolences to Renes family, his parents.. May God Bless You and Keep You ⚘️
Kim tardiff
So sorry for your loss Lynn condolences to you all. Enjoy the memories you made together. Gone way too young
Lori Vialoux
I am so sorry to hear about Rene. Please accept my deepest condolences to Lynn,Alissa, Jake and all the family and friends who have lost this wonderful person in their lives. ❤️
Henrietta Ouellet
We are so sorry to hear this tragic news. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. All our love
Henrietta and Sylvain ❤️
Michelle Bruneau
Dear Lynn and family, we are so sorry to hear of Rene’s passing. Our deepest sympathies, sending prayers and hugs. Michelle and Ron Bruneau
Rene Caya
Condolences to your family.
So sad, taken from this world to young
Joel Lamoureux
There are no words to make sense of your loss. I have many fond memories with Rene while we were learning life in grade school in Powerview. Reading this tremendous story of legacy is no surprise from the young man I knew. We are sending you our love Lynn and family and hope that with time, the pain will diminish. May the memories of a tremendous life bring you warmth and love during this very difficult time. Love and prayers. Joël Lamoureux
Albert lamoureux
Our Condolence to the Family
Noella Oman
Wow…That’s the most beautiful obituary (Story), I have ever read.
Sorry for your Loss Lynn, Alissa, Jacob and extended families.
RIP Rene, your suffering is over.
Mike and Nellie
Elise Zolinski
Our sincere and heartfelt condolences to all of René’s family. It is so hard to lose a husband, a father, a son, a brother. This is such a beautiful story and tribute to him . Our prayers and hugs to his family.
Monique & Frank Hawranik
What a beautiful story. Well written. We will always remember his beautiful smile and his laugh. Our sincere condolences to all the family.
All our ❤️ Love.
Noel catellier
My deepest condolences To the family of Rene
Curtis & Brittany Dowling
So very sorry for your loss, Lynn & family.
Natalie Chisholm
Lynn,
I am so very sorry for your loss of Rene. He was a lovely man and a great family man. I am so sad for all of you. Hugs
Natalie and Aidan Chisholm
Richard Fontaine
Rene will surely be missed. Very good and wonderful person and I wish we could have gotten together more, but you think that we have all the time in the world. Sadly, people are often taken too soon and that time has evaporated.
Lynda & Don Van Kooten
A truly beautiful tribute…
We send our Deepest Condolences to you and your Family’s
Sincerely
Lynda & Don Van Kooten
Lyle
So sorry for your loss……rest in peace Rene…..your friend from Tanco Lyle Beuckx
Pauline Dupont-Potvin
So sorry to hear about René’s passing . He will be missed by many . Cherish the wonderful memories you’ve made with him and hope they bring comfort to you in these difficult times .
Our sincere sympathies to all of his family.
Cousins
Pauline&Royal Potvin
Claude and Patti-Jo Papineau
So sorry for your loss❤️
Our thoughts and prayers to all of his family❤️❤️
Kim,& Brenda Brandson & Craig
Prayers and hugs to Lynn and the kids. He was such a pleasure to meet up with at the gate at work or anywhere! I know he will be greatly missed by all.
Condolences, hugs, prayers.
RIP Rene.
Maurice & Kristen Coss
Extremely contagious was his smile, he always kept one ready to go. I don’t ever remember seeing him without one. He will be missed. This is truely a great description of a life not wasted and a family who will be left with a massive gap to fill. Lynn, Alissa and Jake…. We are so sorry for your loss. Condolences from the Coss family.
Carrie and Pat Peloquin
Having Lynn and Rene and their great kids Alissa and Jake in our lives has brought our family so many great times. The joy of the boat rides, the Friday night get togethers, the fishing, and adventures and a wonderful trip to Las Vegas to celebrate out 25th with friends.
Our world will not be the same without this great man. But we will treasure all the memories. The wise guy will always be a footprint on our hearts. We treasure his family and will continue to hold you all close in our hearts.
The Bear River will never be the same. We will miss you forever.
Hugs and strength to the family. We love you all.
When celebrating Rene”s life we see 1967-2022. We look at the numbers. But what we all need to do is look at the dash. The dash is the life we lived. The memories we gave. the adventures, love and life. The numbers aren’t the important part. It the Dash that represents a life lived
Ida Race
Our deepest condolences to you Lynn and family. As kids we spent many New Years Eve’s with Rene and his family as well as playing hide and seek on many summer nights. He was blessed with a beautiful family that will cherish his story for their life time. May he rest peacefully and without pain.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Karen
I am so sorry to hear this. Seeing Rene always made me smile. He was always smiling.
Lynda Miller((Sawchyn)
Oh Lynn…I am shocked and saddened to hear of your loss. May God Bless you with comforting memories to help you heal.
Leitha
Sending sincere condolences to you, Lynn, Alissa, Jake and your family for your loss. Rene’s obituary was truly a beautiful story. Love and prayers to you all James and Leitha
Tim and Cindy Haverlock
Our deepest condolences from Tim and Cindy Haverlock on the loss of Rene. May he fly with angels.
Kim
I’m saddened by your loss. It seems so unfair that cancer has taken a husband and father at such a young age. I will always think of him with his beautiful smile. ❤️ Sending my love
Kim Arsenault and family
Sonia Sheane
So sorry for your loss
Nicole Hynes
So sorry to hear of Rene passing. My sympathies to you Lynn, Allyssa and Jacob and all of his family. Cherish the memories
Edna Pichor
So sorry for your loss Lynn and all the family. Loss is never an easy road to travel. Sending all of you prayers.
Darlene Lamoureux
Sending my deepest condolences, Lynn.
Bernadette Ouellet Marie
My deepest condolences, I am so sorry to hear about Renee’s passing… my thoughts are with you all and sending peace and love to his family.
Paul Robert
So sorry to hear, he was one of the kindest persons I’ve ever met, thoughtful and a big heart. The whole family is the same, such a amazing family. I’ve always got flowers from there greenhouse. Sending my condolences to the family, He will be sadly missed ,
Annette Bisaillon and family.
My sincere condolences to Lynn and family. May he rest in Jesus arms and be at peace.
Big-E
He was a Good Friend, Coach, Co-worker and Team mate for many years. I will miss him dearly. R.I.P. my friend.
Gone but never forgotten little buddy.
Bill and jeannine lavallee
So sorry to hear of Rene’s passing. Condolences to you Lynn, Alissa, Jacob and all the family!!!! He will be terribly missed
Kevin Lesosky
Condolences to you all. He was a good man.
Sue Clarke (Gauthier)
So sorry for your loss. I am sending my Condolence’s to all the family. Take care and be strong.
Joanne Whyte (former co-worker at PVS.
I am so sorry for your loss.
My heartfelt sympathy to you Lynn and the family.
Cliff and Gwen Veilleux
So sorry for your loss. Condolences to all the family.
Linda Friesen
I am sending you my deepest condolences Lynn and family. May God help you find some peace in theisfle of such trying times. Thinking of you and your family.
Linda
Linda Friesen
I am sending you my deepest condolences Lynn and family. May God help you find some peace in during such trying times. Thinking of you and your family.
Linda
Shawn Tosh
My condolences to you Lynn, your family and your extended family. Thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Toni Bruneau
Condolences to Rene’s family, and special friends. He had many. It was a pleasure to have worked with him for a short time at CNL. He was one of those people, you were instantly comfortable with. I appreciated the always pleasant conversation, and his smile. His beautiful story ended way too soon.
So sorry for your loss.
Bucky
A good father and husband and great son in law. Rene’s quick wit will truly be missed but not forgotten.
Mark Petursson
So sorry to hear of Rene’s passing.
Good memories.
Sue&Rick
So sorry to hear of your loss sending condolence to the whole family from Rick Bouchie & Sue Clarke. Take & be strong.
Terry Jones
So sorry for your loss Lynn. Condolences to your children as well. What a beautiful obituary, so very thoughtful and heartfelt.
Nancy
My deepest sympathies to you and your family Lynn. To all his family and friends I send condolences and prayers.
Eva and Lorne
So very sorry Lynn and family to hear of your loss. Keeping you close to our hearts and in our prayers at this sad time.
Rick Rusk
Our condolences to you and your family
Howard & Jacqueline May
Our condolences to you and your family. May you find comfort in family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Margaret Lapenskie
Lynn, I’m so sorry to hear of Rene’s passing. My condolences to your and your family.
Tammy & Scott
We are deeply saddened to hear of Rene passing. Our sincere condolences to you Lynn, Alissa & Jake as well as all your extended family. Rene had a genuine warm smile, & a heart of gold, there are no words of comfort when you lose someone so special, but may you find strength in each other. Take care.
Tammy & Scott Murphy
Sheri
Sending much love and deepest sympathies to you all.
Sheri
Alma Starr
Heartfelt condolences Lynn, Alissa, Jacob and families for your tremendous loss. Rest in Peace Rene. Prayers for strength and comfort. Alma Claude and Melissa Starr
Marcelle Dupont
Sylvio et Jeanette, mes sincères condoléances pour la perte de votre fils René. Votre ancienne voisine, Marcelle
Glenn & Brenda Sanderson
Our love, deep respect and prayers for the family, May Creator wrap loving arms around you all. Travel well Rene! A Life well loved ! ❤️
Murray Cowan & Eleanor Tamilowicz
To Marcel and Heather, so sorry to read about your loss, our sincere condolences to you and your family.
Shannon
Lynn and family, I was saddned to hear the news about Rene. Very sorry for your loss.
I knew both Rene and Lynn separately growing up in Pine Falls. I met up with them later on in life at the Casino, we chatted for sometime. Afterward I thought, “What a great couple, they are definitely Partners in Crime”. Rene was always pleasant in a mischievous way…..what a great way to be.
RIP Rene
Peter Humble
Our deepest feelings and condolences to you and family on a major loss of a good guy! Never easy but I am sure you will keep your strength for the rest of the family. Take Care, Peter and Lenora
Maria E. Chaput
A vous Janette et Sylvio et toute votre grande famille, mes plus sincères condoléances. Mes prières et mes pensées sont avec vous tous. Une autre étoile dans le ciel , une autre présence dans l’infini.
Don Hebert
I’m saddened to hear of Rene’s passing, another one taken to young, my condolences to the entire family. I met Rene a long time ago at his uncle Aimé’s place in St. Adolphe, specifically one time when René and his two brothers, Marcel and Paul wanted to wrestle their uncle and I, and wouldn’t give up. Our paths crossed several times, and later on I ended up working with him at the Mill and in the last few years at CNL. Rest in peace my friend.
Mary Power
My thoughts and prayers are with your families! May the beautiful memories shared give you strength and peace!
The Andersons
So sorry to hear of your loss Lynn. It is a shock to have to say goodbye, so soon. Please accept our deepest condolences. Praying for strength for you, & the family over the next few months . Gentle hugs, JoAnne & Donald