December 3, 1965 - August 25, 2022
In Loving Memory ~
Oren Jay Sveinbjornson would have considered it ridiculous that he needed an obituary, yet he didn't plan on dying suddenly at age 56 in Barriere , BC on 25 Aug 2022. Before his tragic passing, Oren and the love of his life, Angela, were living out their retirement dream, building their home in the solitude and beauty of BC's wilderness. Oren was the ultimate DIY Guy - he had a knack for learning how to accomplish just about any task. He revelled at taking things apart and/or putting them back together and there was always another home improvement project to tackle. Yet he was generous with his time and expertise, readily helping family and friends with jobs big or small, whether it was making a bike rack to renovating an entire kitchen. I imagine him in Heaven right now convincing St Peter that the Pearly Gates need to be brought up to code.
Born in Lethbridge, AB on 03 Dec 1965, he grew up in the wilds of the NWT and Yukon, learning to camp, fish, hike and drive a snowmobile. After finishing high school in 1984 in Burlington, ON, he embarked on an exciting 27 year career as an officer for the RCMP. He did everything one would imagine a good Mountie would do - keeping the peace in a small, isolated town in the NWT, patrolling the mean streets of Surrey, BC, providing security for dignitaries and tracking down gangsters & serial killers - heroic work indeed. But the story that sums up Oren's character the best is the time he could not allow himself to carry out the traditional duty of town dog-control, thereby rescuing a dog from being euthanized. He called that dog "Lucky" and she was his dearest companion for many years.
Oren is survived by his wife Angela, parents George and Gloria, brother Tim (Vicki), sisters Kristina (Dustin) and Pollyanna, and numerous nieces & nephews and his German shepherd Gunnr. Those who grieve may find solace in knowing that up to the time of his passing he was happy and living his best life.
He would never want people to fuss over him with a ceremony or memorial, but don't let that stop you from raising a glass in his name and remembering the way he's touched our lives forever.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your local SPCA .