Moving farewell to a Second World War hero

Innisfail has bid farewell to a hero of Canada and France.

During a moving funeral on Aug. 19 at the St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, members of the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion were on hand to honour Trooper Numi Stefanson, a distinguished and decorated Second World War veteran who passed away Aug. 16 at the age of 98.

“We wish to thank the Innisfail branch of the Royal Canadian Legion for the beautiful and moving service they provided for our dad,” said Stefanson's two daughters Louise Gillies and Janice Faulkner in a joint statement. “The honour guard and ceremony made such a meaningful tribute and for this we will be forever grateful. Dad proudly served in the army during the Second World War.

“Dad would have been so pleased with the meaningful way you said goodbye to a fellow veteran,” the daughters added. “Thank you for giving him a hero's farewell.”

Almost two years ago during the Remembrance Day ceremony at the local legion, citizens were witness to the special commemoration for Stefanson, who received France's highest non-citizen award as a Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honour in recognition of his service to free the European nation.

“I am honoured to present this medal to you, on behalf of the President of the Republic of France, and to thank you for your part in freeing France during the Second World War,” said Strong, while presenting the international honour to Stefanson in 2014. “This medal has been given to only 600 individuals, of whom 6,000 were deemed to be eligible worldwide.”

The Second World War veteran served in the 12th Manitoba Dragoons and was part of the armoured car regiment with the rank of trooper.

Stefanson was one of the initial Canadians who landed on the beaches of Normandy from Britain, and military duty took him from the beaches of France to Belgium and finally to Germany.

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