February 22, 1940 - October 10, 2024
In Loving Memory ~
With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Frank Joseph Duralia at the age of 84.
Frank was born and raised in Grand Forks, the youngest of five boys born to John and Barbara Duralia. At the age of sixteen Frank followed his older brothers into the woods and started his career as a logger.
He started out setting chokers and loading logs onto trucks at H.A. Larson Camp near Harrison Lake, then moved to Vancouver Island and logged near Sooke, B.C. before moving back to Grand Forks in 1965 and working for Boundary Logging Products. In 1978 he moved to the Queen Charlotte Islands where he spent the remainder of his career working for Crown Zellerbach until he retired in 1995. He was well respected for his strong work ethic and expertise by everyone he worked with in the industry.
After retirement Frank moved back to his home in Grand Forks where he enjoyed spending time gardening, huckleberry picking, swimming in the Granby River and collecting firewood. He was a gifted wood carver and especially loved spending time in his woodworking shop. He took a special interest in building steam donkey replicas to scale and took great effort in milling its many functioning parts.
Frank also enjoyed reminiscing with old friends at the Legion over a pint and was known to tell a great story or two. Frank was an animal lover and gave a home to many cats over the years. He would also feed the many deer who visited his yard. Frank also loved to travel in his Dodge pickup truck pulling his 5th wheel trailer, taking many trips to the Yukon and Alaska.
Frank was predeceased by his parents, four brothers, John, Nick, Peter, Tony and eldest daughter Kathleen Davidson.
He will lovingly be remembered by his three daughters, Marion (Rod), Betty, Gail (Jamie), son-in-law Dan Davidson, grandchildren Curtis, Robert, James, Kaitlin and Ben and many nieces and nephews.
Thank you to the nursing staff at Hardyview Lodge Christina Lake Cottage where Frank spent his final years. Also thank you to the Grand Forks Funeral Home, Father Ben, the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church Music Ministry and Catholic Women's League.
Christian burial has taken place with interment at Evergreen Cemetery in Grand Forks. Frank will fondly be remembered by his nickname Old Bull and for his recitation of the poem The Cremation of Sam McGee by Robert Service.