Jeffrey Francis Dufrane was a Big Man with a bigger heart. He was born November 28, 1959 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and passed away on June 21, 2016 at the age of 56 years. He was the seventh of nine children born to Joseph and Lillian Dufrane.
Jeff loved the outdoors, hiking, fishing and camping. He loved to joke and tease with his family and friends such as Todd and Colin whom he met while in Fort Nelson. He moved to Fort Nelson in 2001 where he worked at the saw mill. It was there where he met Levi and the two started carpooling to work. It was shortly after this in Dr.Kenyons office that he first laid eyes on Levi's Mom Linda, who was there with her daughter Dayla. Linda kept telling herself ‘don't look don't look’ for he was the most handsome man she had ever seen, he had to be taken she thought. However, he was not, and it was shortly thereafter that Linda got a phone call from Jeff. He made the big mistake of asking her if she knew how to two step. Big Mistake! She had learned from the best. They were soon inseparable and lived together for the next seven years. Then in 2008 they moved to Saskatchewan. It was there, in their Neudorf backyard that the two were married by Brother Bill Harrold.
Jeff was a very hard working man who gave it all 110 percent and more. His strength and smarts made him an invaluable worker always getting the job done as quickly and efficiently as possible. He worked numerous jobs - Coca Cola, Pepsi, Tackama, Hypor, Unger, Duncan and Lafarge. He held many apprentice tickets, brick layer, scaffolding and license crane operator. Though he may have missed his calling as a military cook, because Jeff loved to cook enough for an army when it came to family and friend feasts. His co-workers will surely miss his big smile and big heart, strong back and quick wit.
He loved hockey, his favorite team was the Montreal Canadians, the Habs. His favorite football team the Saskatchewan Roughriders. While attending a live Roughriders game he and his wife took their BBQ cover put 2 holes in it, pulled it over their heads and kept the rain off. His favorite Baseball team, who else but the Blue Jays.
As mentioned he loved to cook, he would put on feasts with up to15 entrees. Two years ago he was cooking Christmas dinner and the stove died, so he phoned the neighbor and asked if he could use his stove. Merv thought he was going to bring his food over to cook. Not Jeff though, he ended up hauling the stove over to his house and cooked the Christmas dinner. His willingness to help knew no bounds, he’d help friends and family whenever anything was needed, he would always offer to help a little old lady carry her groceries to her car, or anyone else who needed a helping hand.
He was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle and friend. He will be missed by many. There will be many with big holes in their hearts. He is survived by wife Linda Dufrane, daughter Sarah Delorme (Russ), grandsons Oliver and Milo; stepson Levi London, stepdaughter Dayla London (Steve Simms), grandsons Evan Simms and Rylan Simms; siblings Michael, Wendy (Ron McRae), Andrew (Loretta), David (Kathy), Karen Freeburn (Terry), Barbara Tripp; sister-in-law Jeanne (Ernie) Dennhardt, nephews Jeremy, Zed, Isaiah and niece Mariah. sister-in-law Carolyn (Martin) Gomes and nieces Christina, Kayley, Cassy; Don & Rick Wilson and family, and numerous other nieces and nephews. He will be missed by his 4 legged son Sam "man's best friend" who he rescued. Jeff was predeceased by his parents Joseph Dufrane (1973) and Lillian Dufrane (nee Sargent) (2009) and brothers Mark Dufrane (1989) and Paul Dufrane (1996). He will be loved and missed by many family, co-workers and friends.