Dad was born in Lachine, Quebec and raised in Kamouraska. At 12 years old, he left home to work with his brother in the mines of Val D’or. At 16 he applied for a job as a diamond driller at the Premier Mines in Stewart BC, he landed the job and headed west. During the down times in the Mining Industry Dad would travel back home to pick up odd jobs. It was on one of these trips that he met a Frenchman (Joe Therrien) in the bar in Smithers, this would change his life forever. He went to work for Joe at his sawmill in Topley. One day Joe sent Dad to pick up his daughter at the train station, 3 months later he and Mom were married; they just celebrated their 68th Anniversary this year.
Dad enjoyed gold-panning, reading local history books, watching old time
westerns, and telling stories to his grandchildren how a bear ate his leg! His life revolved around his family and there wasn’t a grandchild that didn’t enjoy being rocked by Papa!
Dad was predeceased by his Mother, Rose, Father, Roch, Brothers Guy and Réal. He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Rita (Therrien), 6 Children, 16 Grandchildren, 26 Great Grandchildren and 1 Great Great Grandchild: Pierrette (Dave)Smith, (Michelle Hainstock- Cyler, Davyn, Jack and Gus), (Guy Hainstock - Cassia), Roger (Carol) Leclerc, (Adam Leclerc (Stacey) - Mason, Mary, Alice), (Amy (John) Lambert - Annika), (Christine (Tyson) Hull), Irene (Stacy Almgren - Paige and Kolten)(Pam (Will) Foster - Mercedes, Rylan),(Andrea (Toby) Dupuis - Melissa, Cody), (Ashley Roth (Jason), Robert (Faye) Leclerc, (Danielle (Ken) Knull - Ben, Allison), (Chris (Christine) Leclerc - Miranda (Avery-Lynne), Simon, Ethan, Mya), Helene (John) Murie - (Jennifer (Stephen) Aguiar - Dominic), (Peter (Tammy) Murie), Louise Leclerc (Rodi) - (Renée (Kevin) Pottle - Kasha, Oscar, Axel), Jesse and Sean. Numerous nieces and nephews across Canada.
He was so loved by us all and will be sorely missed.
A plus tard Papa!