Lawrence Barnett

With heavy hearts and overwhelming loss, we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, Papa and friend, Lawrence Barnett.

To know Lawrence was to be greeted with a smile and an energy that could lift any room. His happy exuberance, zest for life, and willingness to lend a hand—whether to family, friends, or complete strangers—were constants throughout his life. If Dad was ever in a bad mood, it never lasted long, and more often than not, the Calgary Flames were to blame.

The loss of his mother at the young age of 18 shaped Lawrence’s ease for an open heart and expressing warmth. He never shied away from showing his love, holding a hand, or offering a hug. Our family has always been one where “I love you” is freely spoken, and Dad led that example with ease and sincerity.

In many ways, our family has been living with loss for years. Dementia, with its many small and profound goodbyes, slowly took pieces of him from us. We were grateful, however, that Dad always knew the three of us—his wife Doni, his daughter Katherine, and his son Lawrence. Even in the final days, we were gifted moments where an “I love you” broke through, reminding us of the man we have always loved.

Lawrence shared 52 years of marriage, (61 years together) with Doni, a partnership built on love, laughter, and devotion. He was a proud and supportive father and papa, cheering from the sidelines at hockey games, baseball diamonds, soccer fields, and even horse-jumping arenas. The love and pride he felt for his extended family grew to include love for his son-in-law Jim Zabaneh, his daughter-in-law Debbie Barnett, and his greatest source of joy and enduring legacy—his grandchildren Ethan, Sofia, and Jaxson.

We hope that after the unbearable torture of these last years, Dad is now walking around heaven, visiting family who await him with open arms and a table filled with his favorite foods—after a peaceful day of fly fishing with the dogs he loved or sinking his next hole-in-one on the golf course.

We will remember Lawrence for his smile, his generosity, his playful sense of humor, and his steadfast love for his family. While dementia may have taken parts of him from us, nothing can take away the love he gave, the lessons he taught, or the memories he left behind.

Take a moment today to reach out to someone you care about. Share a memory that makes you smile — a happy, funny, or fond memory — and tell them you love them. Life is fragile, and far too short. ❤️

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Lawrence Barnett, please visit our Tree Store.