The funeral for Fr. Don Hamel will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 22 at the Cathedral of the Holy Family, Saskatoon, with a prayer vigil the evening prior at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 21. Please note, the Thursday evening prayer service will be held in the Queen of Peace Chapel at the Cathedral of the Holy Family.

Retired diocesan priest Fr. Donald Francis Hamel died peacefully at his home at Shields, SK, on or about Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022 at the age of 71 years.

Don Hamel was born May 25, 1950 in North Battlefod, SK, and was ordained to the priesthood on June 10, 1977.

He served as pastor of a number of parishes in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon, including parishes at Rosetown, Milden, Humboldt, Biggar, and Landis, as well as serving as pastor and rector of St. Paul Co-Cathedral and pastor of St. Augustine Parish in Saskatoon prior to his retirement in 2014.

He loved music and played many instruments (on which he was self-taught); he loved cooking, fine wine and gardening – he spent many hours at the garden centres picking out the best-looking plants and getting one of each variety.

He was predeceased by his parents, David and Therese Hamel, his two brothers, Maurice and Leon Hamel, and his nephew, Blaine Hamel. He is survived by his siblings Bernard Hamel (Opal), Denise Hamel, Lorraine Lavoie (Hubert), Marcel Hamel (Patricia), Gaitane Giasson, Claudette Turner, Adele Schildroth (John), Diane Randall (Barry), his very special friends, Roshan and Aathmeeya Thomas, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A prayer vigil will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 21 at the Queen of Peace Chapel, Cathedral of the Holy Family, 123 Nelson Road, Saskatoon.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 22, 2022, at the Cathedral of The Holy Family with Bishop Mark Hagemoen presiding and concelebrated by Father Ken Beck and others. Rite of Committal will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery.

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