Obituary of Donald Claude Anstey

Donald (Donnie) Claude Anstey 

June 20, 1979 - August 1, 2022

"Take what is left of me and scatter the ashes to the wind to help the flowers grow.  If you must bury something, let it be my faults and my weaknesses.  If by chance you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone you love.  If you do all I have asked, I will live forever in your hearts."  

It is with broken hearts that the family of the late Donnie Anstey announce his sudden passing on Monday, August 1, 2022 in Corner Brook.  Donnie leaves to mourn his partner Pansy Burton; sons Nathan and Reid (mother Marion); parents Maxine (Garry) and Donald (Denise); grandmother Eileen (Andrew) and sister Jennifer (Sandy), along with a large circle of family members including his many aunts (Chris (Jerome), Lorraine (John), Audrey, Linda (Larry) and Joanne (Kevin)) and uncles (David (Ursula), Glenn (Ada), Rob (Maria), Darren (Kellie), Doug (Catherine), Neil (Penney) and Perry (Nadine)), cousins, nephews and niece.  Adored from day one, when his Mom counted his fingers and toes and looked into the brownest eyes she had ever seen, parenting with love took on a cherished role that lasted 43 years.  Donnie also leaves behind, with fond and fun memories, a warm circle of friends including lifelong best friends Brad Warren (Melinda) and Jason Hackett (Barbie) whose love and support have been immeasurable and unwavering the entirety of his life.  He was predeceased by his grandfathers Joseph Companion and Claude Anstey, grandmother Lucy Anstey, uncles Ted and Bernard, cousins Nancy and Joshua and his beloved dog Russ.  From his earliest years, Donnie's family watched him grow in awe of the outside world and of an outdoors full of adventure. He so loved fishing, camping, hunting, gardening, sledding, sea-dooing and just chatting and laughing around a crackling campfire.  These are the times when Donnie was most at peace with the world.  This passion lasted through to his very last days and could only be surpassed by his love for his two beautiful boys.  Though life's struggles paved a path whereby his boys weren't present in his daily life, they were always on his mind and forever in his heart.  Nathan and Reid: Daddy loved you! 

Family and friends are invited to visit Fillatre's Funeral Home, 4 St. Mark's Avenue, for a memorial visitation on Thursday, August 4th from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm.  Funeral service will be held on Friday, 11:30 am at Our Lady Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Church, 364 Main Rd, Benoit's Cove.  Memorial Reception to follow at 14 Davis Drive, Mount Moriah.

"For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: 'It might have been!'"