MCLAUGHLIN Edward

1926 ~ 2013 Edward McLaughlin of the city of Lethbridge, beloved husband of the late Dorothy (Findlay) McLaughlin, passed away on November 3, 2013 at the age of 87.

He is survived by his five sons, 16 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Ed was born in Fivemiletown, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland and emigrated to Canada as a young child. He was raised in Brampton, Ontario and met his future wife Dorothy while making a delivering to the hospital in Toronto where she worked. They were married and moved to Galt, Ontario where their first three sons were born. In 1958 they moved to Lethbridge where their family expanded to five boys. Ed was a popular and well-known figure in the city of Lethbridge. During his 40 year career in the grocery business, he opened the first large supermarket in Lethbridge – a Loblaws store- in the building that now houses the Royal Canadian Legion. Altogether, Ed ran three Loblaws stores, the Super-Valu in the College Mall and County Foods. Ed was a veteran of W.W. II and a longtime member of the Lethbridge Legion, the Army Navy and Air Force Club, the Elks Club and was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus 5726. He was a man of deep faith and a devoted parishioner of Assumption Church and, more recently, St. Basil’s Catholic Church. Ed and Do loved camping and spent many happy summers in their trailer and motorhome at Sandpoint, Idaho, Norbury Lake and Lake Koocanusa, B.C. But their favourite home away from home was Waterton Lakes National Park. In his retirement, Ed would take long walks in Lethbridge stopping constantly to greet friends and acquaintances on his route. Ed loved a good cigar, a cold beer and barbequing steak for dinner. He would sing “Danny Boy” at the drop of a hat. Ed leaves an amazing legacy through his sons and their families. He is survived by his son Peter (Linda Ann) of Dallas Texas, Doug (Karen) of High River, John (Sylvia) of High River, Bob (Ruth) of Shanty Bay, Ontario, and Dave (Sharlene) of Rocky Mountain House. He is survived by 16 grandchildren: Dylan, Lauren, Tara, Diane, Tammy, Ryan, Kimberly, Andrea, Peter, Denise, Gregory, Hannah, Scotty, Taylor, Braydon and Jordyn. A Funeral Mass will be held at 2:00pm on Thursday November 7, 2013 at ST. BASIL’S CATHOLIC CHURCH. Interment to follow in Mountain View Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society, #402, 740 4th Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB T1J 0N9. Send condolences at www.mbfunerals.com.