Donald Paul Beland, 78, of St Petersburg, FL passed away on March 17, 2011. A funeral mass is scheduled for 11 AM, Monday, March 28, 2011 at the Our Lady of Good Hope Old Roman Catholic Church, 5501 62nd Avenue North, Pinellas Park, Florida 33781 with The Most Reverend John J. Humphries, pastor, to officiate. Full military honors will be provided by the Korean War Veterans Honor Guard at the end of the Mass. The family will receive friends at the church from 10 AM until service time. Burial will be at a later date at Bay Pines VA National Cemetery, Bay Pines, Florida.
Donald was a native of Chelmsford, MA and a local resident since 1972 when he moved here from Trenton, NJ. He was a retired Mechanical Inspector for Raytheon, RCA and AMTECO. He served as a Corporal during the Korean War in the US Army and was awarded a National Defense Medal. Donald belonged to the VFW, the Elks Lodge, the Moose Lodge and he also was a member of the Korean War Veterans Honor Guard. Donald also attended Our Lady of Good Hope Old Roman Catholic Church in Pinellas Park, FL.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Carina and R. Joseph Beland; brother, Charles; and brother in law, Mario (Rosina) Passolino. He is survived by his loving family: his wife of 56 years, Norma of St Petersburg, FL; a son, Joseph Beland and his wife, Sherry of Germany; his four daughters; Angela Beland of Temple Terrace, FL, Carina Fournier of St Petersburg, FL, Paula Murphy of Tallahassee, FL and Donna Beland of St Petersburg, FL; sister in law, Patricia Beland of Stow, MA; five grandchildren: Ryan Fournier, Brandy Hunter, Trevor Murphy, Darcie Murphy and Sheena Beland, his three great grandchildren: Ally Fournier, Rylee Fournier and Austin Staley; four nieces, Donna Saba, Jeanine Casse, Gina Tiffany, and Suzanne Cavalier; and five nephews, Thomas, Lawrence, Avery, and Alan Beland, and Paul Passolino.
The family request, that in lieu of flowers, to please make a donation to Our Lady of Good Hope Old Roman Catholic Church in the memory of Donald Paul Beland.
Please sign the guest book below.
Veterans Funeral Care
727-524-9202
Norma & Family,
We had so much fun with you &
Don playing Dice & Aggravation
at Soggy Bottom.
The club and Bob will miss his
helping hand there also.
You will be in our prayers.
If you need anything we will be there for you.
Love Bob & Jacky
Norma& Family,I had fun with Don at Soggy Bottom and espically on Saturday mornings waiting for the donuts to arrive and the coffee to get done. You could never forget Don, because he was always there to help everyone that needed his help. My prayers go to you and your family. If there is anything that I can do for you just let me know and I will be there for you.
Love
Nancy Manson
aka
Blue Grass Widow
Dear dad,
Thank you for being the best dad ever.
You instilled in us the value of honor, respect, and our faith in God.
You gave us the strength to endure some of life’s toughest challenges, and we have achieved so much in life as adults because of you.
Thank you for always being there for me, my children, and their children.
In my thoughts you are here with us, and you will always be in my heart.
I love you and miss you,
Carina
Our chapter of Korean War Veterans will surely miss Don as a willing participant as part of the Honor Guard group and his other contributions to Chapter 14. God bless his family and other loved ones.
Carl
Dear Dad,
Although we are all relieved to know that you didn’t suffer, we are all deeply saddened by your sudden passing. Your devotion to Mom and the life you shared for 56 years will provide great comfort for her in the years ahead. We will all be by her side so you don’t need to worry about her.
Thank you for the many life lessons you’ve taught me along the way…you and mom were my first teacher. I love you and will miss you very much.
XOXOXO
Angela
When my father passed away, my grandmother whispered in my ear – “just remember, the Lord makes no mistakes when he calls a loved one home.” This statement brought peace to my soul. I hope that you may find it true also.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Norma & family. Donald & Norma helped me a lot and I thank them for that. I am there for you Norma, even if it just to talk. I will miss Donald Love Cindy
Aunt Norma & all my cousins, it is with great sadness to hear about Uncle Donald. Like dad the assistance from doctors has kept him with us a few more years. That i know we are all greatfull for. There are many wonderful memories i will cherish. Aunt Norma I am so greatfull for the last visit we had together here in Charlotte.
All our Love, Avery & Sharon
First of all, our deepest sympathies to you, Norma & all your family. I only know all of you by name, thru Angela, our neighbor. Knowing Angela & what a wonderful person she is can only mean one thing, which is; she has a wonderful family. Always keep & cherish memories of Donald, the Husband, Father & Grandfather.
Dear dad, thank you for always being there to support, direct and guide me. Your willingness to always give advice or a helping hand will live in my heart forever. You showed me the difference between having a father and having a dad. You were our dad. I will miss you more than I could ever express. Rest easy and know that we will take care of mom. I love you and will miss you very much. Donna
So sorry to hear about the loss of such a dear man. Lots of fond memories of you all from my childhood. My love and prayers to you all during you time of grieving.
Love Lu
Dear Aunt Norma and All my cousins, We are so sorry for your loss. I still have my memories from what times we did get to share over the years, and it does bring a smile..Uncle Donald and Charlie are two men that will not be forgotten.
Love, Donna
Dear Aunt Norma and Cousins, we are very saddened to hear of the loss of Uncle Donald. We are very thankful that we had some years near you in Florida and will always remember the smile that was always on Donald’s face when we were together.
Aunt Norma and my Cousins,
“Time does not really heal a broken heart. It only teaches a person how to live with it.”
Kipling
I am deeply sorry for the loss of Uncle Donald. Any time that I spent with Donald was filled with fun and laughter. He cared so much for family being together. I still remember my first visits in New Jersey.
Sending Love, Tom
My sincere sympathy to all of the Beland family. I was a joy to have you as neighbors for so many years. Those were great times and our children were all together like one family. Know Donald will be missed by many and that the children will take great care of Norma.
My sincere sympathy goes out to Mom, Donna and the whole family. You are in my thoughts and prayers. May God be with you during your time of grief and carry you during each stage. I am here for your family.
To the Beland Family,
I am thinking of your family and praying for you all. My heart goes out to you at this most difficult time. I do not know the Beland family personally, but I know Angela. She is my dear friend. You are all blessed to have each other now and please gather strength from one another.I hope that time will heal your hearts. Know that the love of your Dad will always, always be with you. You will think of him every day with smiles and tears, and you will pass to your families all the lessons and love that was given to you by your husband and father. God Bless you all.
My heartfelt sympathy is being sent to the Beland family during this difficult time. Through my dear friend, Angela, I feel as though I have come to know all of you personally. I truly know what you are going through, having lost both of my parents recently, within six months of each other. It is so important to know that you can count on each other during times of sorrow, but more importantly, let your family know daily how much they mean to you. My thoughts and prayers are with the extended Beland family. May God bless you and your family.
My thoughts and prayers are with all of the Beland family at this sad time. Especially my dear friends Paula, Darcie & Trevor. I hope the love and support of your many friends and family will comfort you. May the sweet memories of your dad live in your heart forever. God bless you and keep you in His loving care.
Love,
Nancy & Sam Varn
Angela & family, My family is here for you to lean on. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you should need ANYTHING. My heart goes out to you all. I know he will be greatly missed. Peace and love to you from my family to yours. Melissa
Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Paula, Trevor, Darcie and your family. May you all find peace in this sad time. It was a pleasure to have meet such kind folks at Christmas last year. We love you Paula and would count it a blessing to be of any help to you. God Bless you and your family.
My heart goes out to the Beland family. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. Angela is one of my dearest friends that I have known for many years. If you need anything, please let me know. Love always, Debbie
My heart goes out to the Beland family. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. I have known Angela for many years and she is one of my dearest friends. If you need anything, please let me know. Love always, Debbie
dear donna and family,
my heartfelt sympathies are with u and your family. i have had the pleasure of knowing you all for 25 years. please know that mr. beland is in a much better place now. and he knows that his wife of 56 years will be taken care of by his wonderful daughters. may god bless you all and donna know that i love you and am here for anything you and your family may need.
Dear Aunt Norma and Cousins, My family and I would like you to know that our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Uncle Donald with be missed.
Love Jeannine,Scott,
Kristi-Anne & Charles
Don may you rest in peace, you are in a better place now. God bless your family.
To the Beland family —-
I am sorry for your loss.
In the very short time that
I have made Don and Normas acquintance they made me feel like a family member.
I feel like that they are my extended family and I will miss Don very much.
Chris
To the Beland Family,and my special friend Carina.
In this time of pain and loss let god embrace you with your fathers remembrance and know
that your dad will always be close to you and your family; he has now joined the endless light of eternal life.
“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.” ~Richard Bach
You and your family have my sincere condolences on the loss of your father.
Your friend:
Teri Arguelles and Family.
Norma, Joseph, Angela,Carina, Paula and Donna. I will miss Don, his humor, his seriousness and stickler for detail. I remember when he got his new cadallic–everytime I would see him he would have more to say about why the cars does. He mentioned that the only thing is does not do is drive itself. If he asked to do something or find out info about the VA I would make sure it get done. I would receive a call the next day from Don saying you the man, how did you get that done so quickly he very much appreciated loyalty. I still do not understand why he died.I know that he is working out this morning and looking down on his friends at the VA gym. May God guide all of you thru this trying. time
Aunt Norma and the family, we’re sorry for your loss so please know that our love is with you across the miles. I don’t remember a lot from childhood but still remember the excitement I had when you would visit Grammy in MA and let me sleep in the van with my cousins. As I got older, the Winter Break trips to Florida to hang in St. Pete’
where the best!
All our love and sympathy,
Alan, Kim, Brandon, Dylan & Evan
Aunt Norma and the family, we’re sorry for your loss so please know that our love is with you across the miles. I don’t remember a lot from childhood but still remember the excitement I had when you would visit Grammy in MA and let me sleep in the van with my cousins. As I got older, the Winter Break trips to Florida to hang in St. Pete’
where the best!
All our love and sympathy,
Alan, Kim, Brandon, Dylan & Evan
My deepest and sincere condolences to my dear friend Carina and the entire family.
My deepest and sincere condolences to my dear friend Carina and the entire family.
I’m so very sorry for your loss. God bless you are yours in this time of sorrow. We are praying for your family.
Valerie
I’m so very sorry for your loss. God bless you are yours in this time of sorrow. We are praying for your family.
Valerie
To the Beland family and my dearest friend Donna, whom I have known practically my entire life, and even though we don’t get together often, we still make time to chat for hours on the phone, hence Donna I am only a phone call away. And my heart goes out to you all. We defiantly made lots of childhood memories at the Belands home that will live in our hearts forever. Remember God only gives us what we can handle, through this we become stronger.
All our love,
The Cooney’s
Susan & Mike and children
to the Beland family keeping you in my prayers
I am very glad I got to meet Donald, and will always remember him. I liked his sense of humor. God Bless you all.
Dad, thank you for all your years of hard work to take care of mom and us children. Even after we all moved out, you and mom were always there for us and our children, including lending a helping hand on any of our own home projects. You taught us that family is the most important. My friends would know weeks in advance that you and mom were coming for a visit; something we always looked forward to. As usual with mom’s cooking, the food was always superb, and we always had fun playing games at the breakfast table and going to our downtown outdoor events. I love you and will miss you always. Paula
I wish I had stayed in touch better. He gave me a chance to learn a new skill before I joined the Navy. God bless. Marshall
How I hope this message gets to you after all the years have passed since Donald’s passing. I am just getting into my computer since my husband has passed away and looking up Normas’s address I found this. How i treasure the memories of great neighbors in Dracut, Ma. J am still in the same house of 59 years ago and remember watching the Beland home being built. Am happy to get Christmas card each year to hear about the Beland Family. Norma and I share the same birthday and I want to get to talk to her on phone this year but have been unable to get her. If anyone in family reads this I pray you will send me number I can reach her.