Creating Memories for Eric Lavoie

In a mere moment, the lives of Sophy Richard and Eric Lavoie were changed forever. When Eric thought that he had pneumonia and had gone to the Kelowna General Hospital, the doctors took him in for 10 hours of tests and the outcome was the last thing that Sophy and Eric expected to hear, especially just ten days before Christmas - Eric had stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer that had already metastacized to his liver. For the first time in his life, Eric was raising his 12 year old biological son Noah full time for the FIRST time and could not imagine having to give Noah the news. You see, all Eric has wanted to do is to show his family how very much they mean to him, regardless of how his own parents treated him. Eric would hitchhike for hours to see his son every two weeks for visitation for years, no excuses. While Noah is Eric's only biological son, you will hear from Sophy's children and the foster children that Eric was their FATHER. Not step father. Not foster father. Eric loved, provided for and protected each of those children as if they were his own because, to him, they were his own.

The couple that lights up every room - Eric was blessed enough to start his life with Sophy in 2002 and together they have raised a small village worth of children who are now amazing young adults. Since meeting Sophy, all Eric has wanted is to give all of himself to this family, this perfectly not-cookie-cutter but SO full-of-love family. When these two arrive at your house, they engage every single person in it. I have not met one person who hasn't gushed about how much they love Sophy and Eric. 
Now let me tell you about Sophy - this woman would sacrifice her last hour of sleep to make you chicken noodle soup when you're sick. In the middle of all of her own bad news, she will spend her evening making you a tray of cabbage rolls for YOUR Christmas dinner. She will ask you how your health is when her heart and mind are consumed with her Eric and his precious health. When her family is threatened, and her family has been threatened, she would sacrifice her life and her freedom to protect them. She will take care of everything that needs to be taken care of with the most heartfelt laugh and smile, you will never feel like you are a burden to her.

Their road has not been an easy one but the one thing that has been easy for them in the 13 years they have been together is loving one another. 
In whatever short time they have left together, they have very few wishes. The important theme here is that they want to create lasting memories for the ones they love.
Eric and Sophy would like to get married in Kelowna surrounded by the ones they love. Nothing elaborate but a real party to celebrate their love! Sophy is Greek so the food and drink would be covered but we would love to give them the entire magical experience of a wedding day.
Eric and Sophy would like to take 12 year old Noah to Quebec to meet the family who pushed Eric away all those years ago. They hope to build a bridge for Noah to understand his heritage and to understand that forgiveness and love are far more important than holding a grudge.
Eric and Sophy would lastly love a trip away together, possibly a trip up North to pan for gold or a trip down South to relax in the sun together.
Eric and Sophy attending their son's graduation.
Eric practicing his craftsmanship with his granddaughter.

Eric taking his granddaughters out in the boat.

 On August 22nd of 2015 Eric Lavoie and Sophy Richard got the opportunity to get married making them Mr. and Mrs. Lavoie



Now to talk about what it means to have Eric as a father (maybe not by blood, but definitely by heart):

A Step father? Far from. This man came into our lives, our broken family with nothing to offer then the clothes on this back, and the skills he has learned through his life. Eric is an amazing man, someone who definetly did not take life for granted. He was always moving, always doing something, to motive the family or for his own personal excitement. Camping, Fishing, Dirt biking, And Shooting guns, are some of our best memories as a family, Every summer we would be out, it didn't matter if we could only be out for one night at a camp sight, we would still be there, as a family. Eric is a type of man, who puts his life last, who didnt need to get ahead as long as he was loved and his family appreciated him for what he did, and who he was. As a family we built an amazing foundation towards a relationship that is unreachable of any other sort. So, back to my question; A step father. I would never consider Eric Lavoie as such, he has been with the family, part of us since we were in our child hoods ( 4, 5, 9 ) he taught us the basics of life, " Throwing a ball, Sports, Starting a camp fire, Etc. " I remember being 12, Dad had asked me, " what do i think of skydiving? " I remember saying I would, but feared the event. All in all, Eric Lavoie is an amazing man, And a superb father.
-- Chris Richard

Eric, not just a stepdad:
                When I was young, something happened in my life that I thought would change it drastically. When I was younger my biological dad, the one who changed my life for the worse, left our family of myself, the youngest of three, my older brother Christopher and my sister Christina and my brave and shattered mother. When everything seemed that it had gone to the ditches and everything was falling apart there was a ray of sunshine that started visiting our family. At first I wasn’t too sure if it was a joke or if the lord sent a Guardian Angel down to protect my family. I remember the first time that Sophy (my mother) told me that I was going to have a dad again. My eyes lit up and I was jumping up and down, screaming that I am gonna have a dad!! I realize now that I wasn’t just happy that I was going to have a dad but that fact that someone was able to make my mom smile again. Over the years, Eric Lavoie turned into the solid stone that my family needed. No matter how hard something was, how impossible it seemed, Eric would find a way to do it.  When I was in school, I have ADHD, so couldn’t stay in school for the whole day and because of this, my dad (Eric) had to stay off work in order to come and pick me up from school and was always there when I needed him. Things started to look good again, there was hope that someone could come into my family as broken as we were and make my mom laugh and once again believe in love. Someone was here to be her protector and, believe me, Eric has been way more than just a protector. He has mentored all of us kids in different ways and I would not be where I am today without dad. I just finished my level three in culinary arts at the college, Eric made it possible for me to go and chase my dreams, knowing that my mom would be taken care of and she is, once again, happy. In December of 2014 we were told that my dad had Pancreatic Cancer and that he should use his time wisely and do the things he loves. Eric is not just another cancer patient, He has all the love and support he needs and he will not fight this alone. We are all standing here side by side being strong and we will win this fight, no ands, ifs, or buts. Cancer will lose this battle…
Evan Richard
Regardless of how much or how little they have had, Eric and Sophy have taught their children to give back. This is the family volunteering at the Salvation Army together.

As you can see, all of the moments in Eric's life that mean the most to him are with his Sophie, his children and his grandchildren. All we are looking to do is to give them the gift of time together when they have given their time to so many others.