René The Rambler Di Stefano

Rene Armando Di Stefano, known to many as The Rambler, was born on September 9th, 1950 in Stansted, Quebec to the late Francis and Marielle Di Stefano. He is one of ten children being the second youngest of the family.

Rene grew up in Stanstead and received his education up until grade 8 at which time he decided to join the employed world and leave the educational one. He found work in a saw mill where he was dearly appreciated by his boss. He then went on to find work at various farms as a hired hand which he really loved because of his passion for animals, especially horses. He found love in his home province marrying Claudette (nee Lapierre) in 1977. Tragically she passed away in 1981.

Rene then moved to Calgary where he found work again around horses. He lived in various places and travelled about meeting many friends and seeing many places. This is where he, no doubt, got the nickname The Rambler which he loved and after time began introducing himself as such. During his ‘rambling man’ years he discovered a love for cooking and was able to gain a little bit of education in the food industry. From then on he considered himself to be a chef and worked at various restaurants in many different places. Eventually he landed himself in Regina, Saskatchewan which is where he met the second love of his life, Louise Sharon Di Stefano (nee Toews). As fate would have it, they fell in love but not only did Rene fall in love with Louise he also fell in love with her four children; Roy, Darlyn, Jenny and Jonathan.

As Rene and Louise built their life together they decided to buy a house and raise the kids in Riceton, Saskatchewan. During the years in Riceton together they made many friends in the community, renovated the old house and showed their children what family togetherness and raising children was all about. Rene kept a variety of hobbies going including gardening, carpentry, playing cards and tinkering around in the garage with little repairs. What he considered to be his biggest hobby was doing things for the kids which included building them all sorts of things, driving them everywhere or simply listening to all of the things they had to say.

In 1997, he got the opportunity to make it official and marry Louise. The wedding took place in the family home with almost everyone in the small community attending. Sadly, a short time after they married Louise lost her battle against cancer and passed away. Rene did is very best to continue to raise the children who had come to know him as their dad. They had everything they could ever want and more. He made sure that they got, at the very least, their grade 12 education.

Through old friendships Rene came to discover the Swan River Valley which he moved to in 2001 with Darlyn, Jenny and Jonathan.  In the last 14 years Rene came to know a great deal of people in the valley and made many more friends.  For some time, he was a proud and active member of the Knights of Columbus in the valley.

You could stop in at Rambler’s house any time and he would have a coffee and a seat at his table to offer because he loved to visit and even play a round of crib. His health began its decline while in Swan River but he maintained his hopes, pride and joy in all of his children. He loved all of the pets he ever had and in the most recent years he would almost always be seen toting his pup Trinity around. They were inseparable.

Some of the greatest joys for Rene were the births of his 7 granddaughters. He was excited at the birth of each and every one of them and there wasn’t an empty space on the walls in his house it seemed because they were covered with photos of them along with the photos of his family. He talked about his family all of the time to anyone who would listen. Rene came to know Don Buhler in the last few years and their friendship was deeply treasured.

There is so much more to the life story of Rene, “Rambler”, and an obituary could never tell it all. His legacy will love on in the hearts, minds and memories that his friends and family will always keep of him. It is with sadness about his passing and also peace of mind believing that he is united with Louise that we, the family, write this. It is also with thanksgiving that we write this. Thank you Rene, for everything, always.

Rene was predeceased by: his parents Francis Exavier and Marielle Di Stefano; his grandparents, his first wife Claudette; his second wife Louise; granddaughter Kansys and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He is survived by: his children Roy (Aryn) Toews, Darlyn Hunt (Kelly Makasoff), Jennafer Sandilands (Jared) and Jonathan Di Stefano; brothers Francis, Maurice and Denis; sisters Francoise, Gracia, Andrea, Sylvia, Leda and Gloria; his granddaughters Kaelina Wittmier, Indeka Toews, Kayden Sandilands, Sury Wittmier, Avista Toews, Beth Makasoff and Ruth Makasoff and many friends near and dear to his heart.