John "Darrell" Lafreniere

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the sudden and peaceful passing of Darrell Lafreniere, our beloved grandfather, father, brother, uncle and friend lovingly known as Poppy. He was born on January 19th, 1955 in Sudbury, Ontario, and passed away suddenly and peacefully at home on January 20th, 2026, just one day after celebrating his 71st birthday.

Darrell was a devoted family man whose love for his family was unwavering. He was the cherished brother of eight siblings: Donna Prince, Wanda (Larry) Barron, Linda (John) Ducasse, Barry (Darcy), Timmy (Roxanne), Joni (Robbie) Maxwell, and Lori (Jack) McKenzie and sister-in-law Betty Lafreniere. He was a proud and loving father of two sons: David and Dwayne (Tayler), and the adoring Poppy to his five grandchildren: Alyssa, Christina, Kaysen, Olivia and Chip Lafreniere, each of whom brought him immense pride and joy. He was predeceased by his parents John and Ruth Lafreniere, brother Doug Lafreniere and brother-in-law Steve Prince.

Darrell was a proud veteran who served his country for more than 24 years in the military with postings across Europe and Canada and multiple tours in the Middle East. His service was marked by his dedication, patriotism and deep sense of duty qualities that defined his life in both in and out of the uniform.

In retirement, Darrell settled into life fully. He treasured time spent with his parents and family, enjoyed sharing laughter with his friends, and could often be found fully immersed in his love for the National Hockey League. These simple pleasures brought him great happiness and reflected his appreciation for the simple moments that mattered the most.

Darrell will be remembered for his direct sense of humor, his kindness and his consistent availability for those he care for most. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all those who knew him.

Viewing and Visitation will be held at McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel on Friday, January 30, 2026 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm. A memorial service will take place at McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 11:00 am. Private family interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery Columbarium. A reception will be held upstairs at the Portage Legion - Branch #65.

As expressions of sympathy, donations can be made in Darrell’s memory to Portage Legion Branch #65, 275 Duke Ave, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 0S5 or Portage Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), 121 12th St. NE, Portage la Prairie, MB, R1N 4A2.

A tree will be planted in memory and cared for by McKenzies Portage Funeral Chapel. www.mckenziesportagefuneralchapel.com