Donald Wilfred Belanger

Donald Wilfred Belanger of Waterville, ME passed away peacefully on October 9, 2017 at the UNC Hospice Hospital in Pittsboro, NC. Don was born on November 25th, 1930 in Waterville ME and was the second son of the late Napoleon (Paul) Belanger and Juliette Belanger.  He married the love of his life, Virginia (Jinny) Clara Belanger, longtime Waterville resident currently residing in Chapel Hill, NC, on May 1, 1954, after returning from Army deployment  during the Korean War. Don retired from the Postal Service after many years of service, and more importantly, with many lasting friends.

First and foremost, Don was all about his family. He and his older brother, the late Emile and spouse Fran Belanger, enjoyed playing cards, games, and other activities online almost daily until Emile’s passing. Don was a proud father to three boys and adored their spouses. Jeffrey Belanger and spouse Pamela reside in Augusta, ME, David Belanger is now deceased, and Dick Belanger and spouse Eileen reside in Chapel Hill, NC. Don was a doting grandfather to Nikki (Sunshine) and spouse Justin Brown, Katie (Princess) Belanger and spouse Eric Grimes, and Adam (Big Guy) and spouse Stefanie Belanger, as well as great granddaughter Chloe and great grandson Chris. He also had many nieces and nephews of whom he was very fond.

Don touched the lives of, and was fiercely loyal to, many friends and family of friends over the years. Many folks in the Abbott St neighborhood and the breakfast crowd at Eric’s were much more than neighbors, they were extended family. They took it well when he wore his Giants or Patriots sweatshirts after wins. Many of them have shared their special memories of Don, saying things like he reminded them of their dad in that “he was quiet, but when he spoke, it was important to listen”, and that “you help people not for the attention, but simply to help.” That truly sums up Don as a person.

Don was also particularly proud of his military service and received the Purple Heart. Frenchie, as they called him, corresponded with his many war buddies for over 60 years, freely sharing the tales of their current lives and old photos of him with his lifelong friends.

The family held a private service in Jinny’s hospital room just prior to her being discharged and are planning an internment service in Fairfield, ME in the spring. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations in Don’s memory to the hospice program that took such great care of him during the later stages of his illness. The address is Medical Foundation of North Carolina, 880 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.

Donaldson Funeral Home & Cremation is honored to serve the Belanger family. 

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