Obituary of Raymond Chocan
Raymond Chocan passed away at Maidstone Health Complex, Maidstone, Saskatchewan on March 19, 2025 at the age of 79 years.
The Wake for Raymond will be conducted from Onion Lake Communiplex, Onion Lake, SK on Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 1:00 pm.
The Funeral Service for Raymond will be conducted from Onion Lake Communiplex, Onion Lake, SK on Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 11:00 am.
Raymond was born March 20, 1945 to Harriet and Wilfred Chocan. Raymond was the seventh child in a large and loving family that would grow to include 13 siblings. Even when times were tough, there was always family to support each other. As a young man he started out as a farmhand in the surrounding communities. He met the love of his life, Lorraine Naistus and they were married in 1964. Together they built a family and a future.
Raymond’s numerous accomplishments spanned a career spent in service of the Onion Lake First Nation. Over the years, Raymond had a hand in Triple O, the Onion Lake Memorial Communiplex, OL Construction, Beretta Pipeline Construction, the Public Works Department, served his community as a board member and as a Band Councillor. He always made decisions based out of respect for tradition and an eye to the future of his community. Even after retirement, he could be heard asking about the work crews and making sure he checked in at the store to stay on top of all of the local news.
Raymond was a sportsman to be sure. He played them all, from rodeo to fastball, to hockey to golf and don’t forget hunting, camping, and quad rallies! He also found so much joy supporting his children, cicims, and cāpāns as they participated in many different sports throughout the years. If there was a sporting event for a family member, Mosom was there.
If you wanted to find Raymond, he could often be found puttering around his yard, fixing anything and everything. He was always rebuilding quads, repairing trucks and making even the most complex repairs out of his collection of spare parts right there in the yard. If you didn’t come see him, you could be guaranteed he would ‘do his rounds’; checking the roads and stopping in to visit at all of the local shops and services.
He loved music and enjoyed dancing to a live band any chance he got. From his days as a young man at a rodeo dance, to dancing with his wife on their anniversary, Raymond could cut a rug! He was never far from his classic country music; playing Hank Williams on repeat.
Raymond was predeceased by: his wife of 58 years, Lorraine; daughter Candy; granddaughter, Desiree; grandson, Juno; his parents, Harriet and Wilfred; brothers, Paul and Wilfred Jr. in infancy; sisters, Agnes, Aldina, Anna, Gloria, and Rosalie; brother, Richard; and many treasured aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
Raymond leaves to mourn: his children, JudyAnn (Terry), Sandy (Kammy), Clint (Trina), Loralee and adopted son, John (Sherri). Raymond will be dearly missed by: his cicims, Stacey, Kayton, Natasha, Emma, Allison, Gage, and Koen; his cāpāns, Chasey-boy, Lorayden, Jayzlen, Rylan, Reha, Sarah, Athena, Kanye, Lyla, Noah, Alora, Gabriel, and Kovey; Niyanna and Nya; Aidan, Jorryn, Paige, and Kayson will miss him forever.
He is survived by: his siblings, June, Grace (Raymond), Jack (Brenda) and Vernon; as well as a large and loving family of cousins, nieces, nephews, cicims and cāpāns.
