Larry Bertrand
It’s with love and sadness we say goodbye to Larry Bertrand, who passed away comfortably in hospice care, surrounded by loved ones, on May 22, 2023, in Peterborough. He was 68 years old.
Over the past year, Larry defied the odds through a hard battle with cancer, more than doubling the time he was anticipated to have left. It’s a testament to his love for his family and unwavering role as caretaker and patriarch that allowed him to push cancer aside for as long as he did, to spend as much quality time as he could with his family and friends.
Larry is survived by his two children, Scott and Jenny, his sons in law Rob and Kody, his ex-wife and good friend Kathy, and two beloved grandchildren Regan and Layne. He’s survived also by his sister Judy, brother Edward and niece and nephew Angie and Dan, and his good friend Donna.
Larry was an avid outdoorsman who was happiest tracking moose in northern Ontario or fishing out a lake in the Kawarthas. He found deep solitude and purpose in those activities, but he also enjoyed them for the sake of friendship and family bonding.
He believed in and was governed by a man’s responsibility to his family -- the obligation to provide and protect. At 6ft4 and around 300lbs, Larry was nobody to mess with, but at his core he was kind and compassionate. He understood the value of being a formidable force in the world but also the morality in self-control. His kids and his niece and nephew are strong, well-grounded people because of that influence.
Larry wasn’t a particularly religious man, but he was deeply spiritual, never referring to death as “passing away,” but rather “passing on.” He’s been a tremendous comfort to others through sad times, and his family knows he was ready to face the next realm with head-on confidence.
A celebration of life will take place toward the end of summer/early fall, close to the opening of deer hunting season. More details will be available through the family over the coming months.