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DONALD VOSTERS
Born: Mar 29, 1964
Date of Passing: Oct 29, 2023
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryDONALD VOSTERS
On October 29, 2023, we lost our beloved brother Don.
Don was born on Easter Sunday, March 29, 1964, the youngest of Peter (deceased) and Toni’s (deceased) seven children. A gift from the Easter Bunny, or so the story goes. Perhaps this mythical origin bestowed Don with his superpower - the power to bring joy, love, laughter, and friendship to all of us who were lucky enough to have him in our lives. More likely, it was a channeling of his dad’s gregarious silliness and love of people and his Mom’s fiercely compassionate, caring heart. Whatever its origins, Don brightened the lives of everyone who knew him. With his grace. With his humour and antics. With his quirky philosophical outlook. With his big, sweet heart.
As anyone who knows Don can imagine - he was an awesome uncle! He cherished his nieces and nephews, and they him. He filled their childhood with magic and the best kinds of mischief. His friendships with them grew as they became adults. During his last months and days, they brought Don great comfort and joy. They and their partners have also been an incredible support to us, his siblings, during this time, dropping off food, visiting, and comforting us in our grief. A special thanks to his eldest niece “Dr. Nicole,” who acted as his trusted medical advocate.
Don’s capacity for love, connection, and community was absolutely astounding. He sustained lifelong friendships with his cousins and their families in Canada and the Netherlands, with high school and university friends, and with his many work colleagues. He never forgot a birthday, or special occasion. His Christmas card list is as epic as the hijinks that went into their creation.
Don also struggled with depression and mental health challenges. He bravely shared his struggles and his victories with his community as he moved through them. His writings were inspirational in their honesty, wisdom, and compassion.
We lost a good man, a loving son, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend who inspired us all to be more generous, compassionate, humble - and of course - foolish in the best of possible ways. We will miss him, our bright star, beyond measure even as we continue to bask in the warm glow he brought to our lives.
A Celebration of Life will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 14 at the Anavets Assiniboia Unit #283, 3584 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you pay it forward in some way. Don has been a passionate advocate for Indigenous rights, people struggling with mental health issues, with homelessness or hunger, with cancer… the list goes on and on.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 04, 2023
Condolences & Memories (2 entries)
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I did not hear until today that Don had passed away. My heart is broken. Donny had a way of making you smile whenever you needed one. He always remembered my birthday and was usually the first to wish me Happy Birthday bright and early on that day. I’ll miss that this year. My heartfelt condolences to his family, he will be missed by many and lived his life blessing many. - Posted by: Allison Clark (Friend from high school and beyond) on: Jan 17, 2024
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Don was such a unique combination of generosity, compassion, humour, humility and love. I’m so grateful to have had him in my life as a co-worker and friend, and to have had a small part in his life for 32 years this very month. I’m going to miss his Christmas drop-by visit each year… and much more that made him so special to so many. My deepest condolences to his family members for their loss, and hopes that their memories of Don always bring more smiles than tears. - Posted by: Karen Kee (Friend, former colleague ) on: Nov 12, 2023
