Randy Saunders
July 25, 1952 to January 24, 2024
Obituary
If you are unable to attend the funeral service for Randy Saunders on Sunday January 28th at 2:00 p.m. from the Carnell Memorial Chapel you may view it by clicking: HERE
It is with sad hearts that we announce Randy Saunders passed peacefully away in the presence of his daughters at the Dr. Leonard A Miller Centre in St. John’s on January 24th, 2024.
Randy was born on July 25th, 1952, to Hugh and Phoebe Saunders in St. John’s. He was a carpenter by trade and an artist by heart. His ability to transform wood, stone, shells, snow, paper, and glass into works of art was well known and well loved. He was proud to spend the final years of his career with CFS St. John’s, and found joy in watching the sunrise, connecting with people through stories, and listening to Jiggs n Reels during a Sunday drive.
Randy will be lovingly remembered by his daughters, Lisa Baker (Tony), Nicole Saunders (Shamus Kealey), Meighan Saunders (Frank Ryan) and Ashley Saunders (Pete Miskell) and their mother Catherine Saunders; seven siblings, Ches Saunders (Heather), Fraser Saunders (Rita), Sharon Skinner (Bill), Sandra Drew (Joe), Kelvin Saunders (Jean, deceased), Donna Lafosse (Derek), and Roxanne Lawlor (Mike); two grandsons, Kaden Baker and Logan Baker; as well as a beloved and far-reaching circle of family and friends. Randy is predecesaed by his parents, Hugh and Phoebe Saunders.
Visitation will take place at Carnell’s Funeral Home, 329 Freshwater Road, on Saturday, January 27th, from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm, and Sunday January 28th from 10 am – 12 pm. A funeral service will be held at the Carnell Memorial Chapel, on Sunday, January 28th at 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Randy’s memory to the United Nation’s World Food Programme to help build a world with zero hunger (www.wfp.org).
Schedule
Visitations
2-4 p.m. on January 27, 2024
6-8 p.m. on January 27, 2024
10-12 noon on January 28, 2024
Carnell’s Funeral Home
329 Freshwater Road
View on Map
funeral
2:00pm, Sunday January 28th
The Carnell Memorial Chapel
329 Freshwater Road
View on Map
So very sorry for your loss. Randy was loved here on the Base for his many talents and kind heart. It was such a pleasure working with him over the years.
Thinking of you all.
Lisa, Tony, Kaden, Logan and extended family
Please accept my sincere condolences on the loss of your loved one. May Randy rest in perpetual peace and may his memory be a blessing.
Lisa, Nicole, Meighan, and Ashley, and Family. Please accept my sincere condolences on the passing of your Dad. Your Dad took great pride in his family and was a much appreciated part of our volunteer community at St. Bernard’s School in Witless Bay. I remember him coming to me with the idea of painting a mural on the corridor of the school and, as well, a wall of the multipurpose room. Over a period of months, he spent hours of his time in the evenings and weekends completing the project. It was a finished project that we took great pride in. I lost touch with your Dad over the years but I never forgot him.. Please know that my thoughts are with you as you celebrate your Dad’s life. Vince
Randy, a son, father, grandfather, brother, husband, in-law, friend/colleague entered this world to enrich our lives. Each of us, who knew him, enjoyed his presence and counsel in ways only he could convey. His piercing eyes, infectious smile, pleasing personality and thoughtfulness enriched our lives beyond measure. As temporary inhabitants of Mother Earth we aspire to inspire. Each of us, in our own way leave a lasting legacy. Now, with his work here complete, his Spirit will reunite with his departed family. He will experience profound joy. We are left here, temporarily, to suffer his loss.
Randy was a teacher to each of us, even if we didn’t recognize it at that moment. He was constantly advising on aspects of life and our role to remember who we are.. We spoke, not as often as we would like but I can still recall his final brief visit. He was driving home for Christmas from Alberta and stopped at our place in Ottawa. This song, has, and always will, remind us of Randy – https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DDt3u2Ev1cI
He radiated happiness in looking forward to seeing his girls.
Randy was a spiritual man blessed with the god-given talents to create beautiful objects from raw material. He visualized the Spirit inside a piece of wood, a shard of glass or shell, and brought it to life. He broke down the complexities of this life on Earth into small understandable actions. It is said that the softest souls carry the strongest message.
I would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to each and every one of you who have taken a moment of your very active life to reflect on what remembrances you have of Randy. This means so much to those who grieve. Each of us who welcome a new day need to feel energized and remember that we are all important to a lot of other people..
Woliwon.
To the Saunders Family : Please accept our sincere sympathy on the passing of your dear Randy . Even though we only met Randy on a few occasions, we realized what a kind and interesting person he was. Donna often talked proudly about him, and Derek referred to him fondly as a school chum, and like a brother to him. Thinking of you all !
Sincerely., Marilyn and Robert Lewis ( sister of Derek Belbin )
Sending my deepest condolences to all of Randy’s daughters and family. Randy and I became close friends as soon as we met. I gravitated to him because he was kind, wise and good. A true gentleman with a heart of oak. His artistic talent and his masterful creations live on, as do all of our fond memories of a gentle soul that truly appreciated every single living thing. I, like everyone who has ever met Randy, am grateful to have known Randy and to call him my friend. I have many fond memories with Randy that I am thankful for. I know he was so very proud of you all. He was an amazing man and he will be missed dearly.
Hello girls.
Just hearing of your Dads passing and am sending Sincere Condolences to you all! I know how much you meant to him and how much he meant to you all!
I will try to get to the service tomorrow.
Regards
Kevin Walsh
Roxanne and Saunders family my deepest condolences on the passing of Randy. Thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Lisa, Meighan, Nicole, Ashley and families so sorry to hear about your dad’s passing. May he rest in peace.
We have very fond Memories of Randy he was a wonderful friend to my mom and dad and ower family. Our condolences to all of you.
Very sad to here of Randys passing he has been a neighbour of mine for the last 8 years .He was wonderful person who would help anyway he could and was a very talented artist in many ways .Gonna miss our morning waves our just a general chat about anything and everything .Hope u rest easy my old friend god speed until we meet again .
Ed
I was deeply saddened to hear of Randy’s passing. He was one of my favorite customers at A&W for breakfast. His love & pride in his daughters was so obvious, he even brought in one his daughters & introduced us. He also brought a number of his beautiful works of art to show me. He was extremely talented. I haven’t seen him since i stopped working, but often asked if he was still a regular & how he was doing. I missed our chats. My deepest condolences to his family.
My condolences to Randy’s family, he was a dedicated working man whom it was my pleasure to have met.
Uncle Randy.. your kindness was one of a kind. You will be missed. May your resr easy.
To Randy’s beautiful daughters, to brother Ches (and Heather) sister Sharron and Randy’s extended families, please accept my heartfelt condolences on the loss of Randy, a wonderful human being. It was an honour and a privilege to meet some of you. May Randy rest in Peace.
Pat Hutton
Our sincere condolences to Randy’s daughters . We watched him many times being a good dad as he played games in the garden with his girls. He was truly an artist ., in winter it was a pleasure to watch him create his snow sculptures . I know his talent lives on . May he RIP.
Lisa, our deepest condolences on the passing of your Dad ,to you and all your family. Live Des and Pat
Ashley, sincere condolences to you and your family on the passing of your father…take comfort in the wonderful memories shared over the years.❤️
My condolences to Randy’s Daughters, Sisters & Brothers. So sorry for your loss. Hold all the good memories close to your hearts. Sending prayers!
Sending condolences and hugs to the family. Loved seeing him last regatta day cheering on his girls.
My condolences to the Saunders family. They will certainly miss their Father but will be comforted by knowing his immense love for them and his immense pride in them.
My deepest condolences to all of Randy’s daughters, family and friends. He was one of the kindest and gentlest souls I ever had the privilege to know.
My deepest condolences Nicole and to all your family. Randy was such a kind and gentle soul.
My sincere condolences to all friends and family. Randy was such a kind person, and I always enjoyed our chats. He is missed
Randy was a huge member of my team here at work. Highly skilled, dependable and irreplaceable. My deepest condolences.