Tribute

Donna LeGrandeur (nee Trozzo) July 23,1939 – July 6th, 2026

“Life is not waiting for the storms to pass; it is learning to Dance in the rain.”

With family by her side, Donna passed away peacefully on July 6th, 2026. When asked what was most important to her mom always responded “family.”

Born on July 23, 1939, in New Denver to Ernest Trozzo and Victoria Winarski, mom spent her childhood running around the family farm in Appledale with her twin brother, Donald. Mom shared stories of fishing in the Trozzo Creek, learning to swim in the Slocan River, lugging her accordion  to music lessons, and attending Sunday dinners at the family farm’s main house where she and her many cousins would be on their best behaviour for Granny Trozzo. Mom adored her 3 aunts, 3 uncles, and many cousins. When she married Ivan LeGrandeur, their time together reflected these family values.

Working as a secretary at the Cranbrook Court House, mom never missed an opportunity to dance – and she and her girlfriends would spend Saturday nights attending “Jaffray Stomps.”  Along with curling, mom enjoyed baseball.  In 1960, while watching baseball at the Cranbrook City Park, mom met Ivan LeGrandeur. A year later they were married, and a plumber’s job awaited Ivan in Winnipeg. Leaving the mountains for the prairies, the couple spent the next 15 years raising 5 daughters while creating a life of camping with friends (in Northern Manitoba), tobogganing and ski-dooing (the Assiniboine River), curling (bonspiels in Grand Forks North Dakota) and entertaining the neighborhood (with mom’s singing and accordion playing). “Roll out the barrel” was a family favorite.

Missing the mountains, the couple returned to B.C. and settled in Cranbrook. Mom continued curling and enjoyed many years of bonspiels with friends and teammates. It was through curling that mom met her common-law spouse Bob Regimbel. For more than 3 decades, the two of them created a rich life: winters were spent curling and enjoying trips to Mexico with friends; summers were spent at Lake Koocanusa. Mom loved the lake, and her and Bob spent over twenty years creating memories of fishing, gardening, campfire sing-a-longs, Canada Day celebrations and entertaining with friends and family.

For over two decades, mom was an employee of SD#5. Starting as a custodian, her secretarial training and welcoming ways made her the perfect person to manage communications and administrative tasks at the District Office. Cranbrook residents and teachers knew Donna as the “cheery voice of the Board Office.” She loved her job and believed in the significance of becoming an educated citizen. Understanding the politics of one’s community, and serving one’s community, was important to mom. In the 1980’s, she was a secretary for the B.C. Social Credit Party. When her youngest daughters were in high school she served as a School Trustee for SD#2. A chaperone for the Cranbrook Girl’s Bugle Band, she participated on many day and over night trips. Post- retirement mom volunteered as a reader for SD#5’s Reading Program and became a noon-hour supervisor for St. Mary’s School where “Miss Donna” was a playground favorite.

Mom’s love for family is evident in her home. Pictures, cards, drawings, crafts, and photos are found in every room. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren brought her joy. Spaghetti dinners, Nona’s tickle trunk, and her sparkly hats (of which there were many) brought many smiles and laughter to dinner tables and family gatherings. Her love for her daughters was evident, too. Phone calls, scooter trips, outings for treats and just sitting on the back deck brightened mom’s days.

Mom will be deeply missed by her common-law spouse, Bob Regimbel, her daughters Jo-Anna (Wayne), Sherra, (Ian), Lynnette (Troy), Michelle (Steve), her grandchildren Jacob (Sam), Jordanna (Taylor), Hali. Mason, Zach, Julianna, and great grandchildren Liam and Emma. Reunited with her twin, Donald (2009), and her daughter Angela (2009), mom will have much to share with her brother and daughter. In lieu of flowers, mom would appreciate a donation to the Cranbrook Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Store where she spent her Thursdays laughing while sorting kitchen ware with her wonderful volunteer friend’s .A special thank-you to the Green Home, where mom thoroughly enjoyed the staff, the Daybreak activities, and her new friends.  A celebration of life to follow at a later date.