Fioretta Gloria Sara McDonald (nee Lazzarin) passed away peacefully on June 26, 2016 at age 92 surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Forno di Zoldo, Italy and arrived in Quesnel when she was two years old. She was educated in Quesnel, at St. Ann’s Academy in Victoria and graduated from UBC in 1946 as a Registered Nurse. She started her nursing career in Wells where she met her husband John Francis McDonald of the then BC Police, then continued working part time at the old Quesnel Hospital, the G.R. Baker Memorial Hospital and the Eileen Ramsey Health Unit retiring in the mid 1980’s.
She was a wonderful caring mother and her home in North Quesnel was the family gathering place. She had a beautiful garden every year and had a houseful of flowers, plants and produce most of which she gave away.
She had a passion for walking and most days in her senior years, weather permitting, she would spend time on the riverfront trail or walking in North Quesnel. She was a devout Catholic with her faith forming the pattern of how she lived her life. She was a church organist for 40 years and was a founding member of St. Ann’s Catholic Women’s League receiving her 60 year pin a few years ago.
Fioretta was predeceased by her husband John Francis McDonald, her parents John (Sr.) and Carlotta Lazzarin, her sister Flavia Gook and her brother John (Jr.).
She is survived by her sons Allan (Dawn), Tony (Deanna), Paul (Lenore), grandchildren Megan (Kris), Marisa (John), Alex (Jamie), Hannah, Elena (Emmanuel), Frances, her great grandchildren Carwyn, Anthony; and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass was held at St. Ann’s Church Quesnel, July 4, 2016 and
she was buried in the Quesnel Cemetery.