Charlebois Council 2704
• P.O. Box 158 • The Pas, Manitoba • R9A 1K4 •
OBITUARIES
Our Brother Knights who passed away since 2007.
Marcel Jean Albert
LaFontaine (1939-2011)
Marcel was born in The Pas,
Manitoba and passed away peacefully at St Anthony’s Hospital, The Pas,
on Saturday October 22, 2011 at the age of 72 years. Marcel was always a
hard worker and was very athletic in his youth. He enjoyed swimming in the summer and
swam across the Saskatchewan River several times, and once dived off
the top of the railway bridge over the river.
At age thirteen Marcel’s life was
changed when he suffered from sleeping sickness (Encephalitis). The
struggle with this sickness left him with a lifelong disability with issues
of co-ordination and balance.
Marcel admired Sir Douglas Bader, a man who lost both of his legs in a plane
crash and, against all
odds, became an Ace pilot during the Battle of Britain was Marcel’s role
model and lifelong
inspiration
to never let his disability get the best of him. Marcel
stubbornly fought to overcome his
loss of a sense
of balance and lack of coordination .
Marcel attended Sacred Heart School, and Margaret Barber Collegiate for a time. He was self educated in almost any issue and had a thirst for knowledge. An avid reader all his life, he read hundreds (perhaps thousands) of books of all types. Marcel worked at the RCAF DEW line radar base at Bird and Cranberry Portage, MB. Then he moved to a job in the new town of Thompson where he worked for the Thompson Supply Company, Strand Billiards, and the Thompson Inn. After his family relocated to The Pas, Marcel followed suit in 1981. He became involved with the MLPH, now the MLPD ( Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities) and served with the provincial MLPD (1986-93). One project he was proud of was improving accessibility of sidewalks and businesses. Marcel worked with others to secure funding which resulted in the building of the Pine View Manor for handicapped persons and the elderly. Marcel served on the board for The Pas Handi-Van until his death.
Marcel found he could do more for the
MLPD and became provincial President. Rather than relocate
he stayed in The Pas and commuted every couple of weeks via
Grey Goose Bus to conduct
business. He served as provincial council vice-president (1986-88) and president
of MLPD (1988-91)
until a stroke left him even more disabled. In 1991 he was awarded the
Council of Canadians with
Disabilities Award for his outstanding contribution to the advancement of
disability rights in Canada.
He bought a three wheel
bike to save on cab fares
and was often seen peddling everywhere. After a
stroke, Marcel finally
agreed to get a scooter and
he was soon on the road again! Marcel lived at Pine
View Manor from
its opening until he passed away. During this time he made many friends there and
was involved with the Pine View Tenants’
association. Marcel’s loved to visit with all his family and
reminisce about all their adventures, play
cards and games. If there was
a Montreal Canadien game
on….you had better be cheering for the right team.
He moved his sister, Elaine, to The Pas in 1995
so he could care for her and visited her
through all kinds of weather
on his scooter or using the
handi-van. Marcel never complained or ever
felt sorry for his disability,
stating that there were always
others who were worse off than he.
Marcel was a Third Degree member of
the Charlebois Council of the Knight of Columbus and an
Associate Member of The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #19. Marcel was laid to
rest beside his
parents at Lakeside Cemetery in The Pas Manitoba.
Pall bearers:
Remi LaFontaine, Gilles
LaFontaine, Louis LaFontaine, Gene Hrabarchuk, Wayne Hall, Robin Roberge
Honorary Pall bearers:
Mike Szadiak, Umberto
Willner, Heather MacKenzie Erin Legace,
Sue Franklin, Ellie Marsh as well as ALL of his friends and residents
at Pine View Manor.
Honor Guard: The
Knights of Columbus
Frances "Joe" Boschler
(1924-2011)
Joe was born Friday, May 16, 1924, in
Biggar, Saskatchewan to Arnold and Pauline Bochsler. After living in Biggar
until 1933, Joe’s family moved to The Pas, Manitoba. In The Pas Joe
developed his talent for earning his way in the world with three paper
routes that helped his mother and father during the depression.
Joe joined the army in 1943 and participated in the liberation of Holland.
He met and married his wife
Guurtje (Juda) in Holland in 1945 and they returned to The Pas in 1946. Joe
and Juda embarked on
their first business venture in 1947 - a small restaurant in Flin Flon. He
joined the Knights of Columbus
in 1948. In 1950, they returned to The Pas and purchased the Alouette Hotel.
In 1957, Joe and Juda
opened the Dutch Drive-In which remains to this day, operated by their
daughter Josie…. a favorite
spring and summer lunch stop for countless residents of The Pas.
Business flourished and in the 1960s Joe and Juda
began their annual winter get-away to Acapulco.,
a winter escape for almost 20 years. In 1983, Joe was devastated by the loss
of his wife Juda. He
found the second love of his life in 1986 when he met Anne Aspen. Anne and
Joe had many adventures and travels
to Australia, Europe, the Caribbean, and the USA and Canada. In 2007,
failing health brought Joe to
live with Anne on the farm near Porcupine Plain where he enjoyed her loving
care. In addition to family
and friends, Joe loved to play crib, watch sports on TV, crack jokes and
share his pearls of wisdom
with family and friends. Joe touched the lives of so many with his wit and
generosity. He had a
wonderful skill for conversing with people and maintained his trademark
sense of humour to the end.
Joe passed away peacefully Saturday, October 22, 2011 at the
Hospital, Tisdale, Saskatchewan,
age 87 years. Joe will be forever loved and remembered by his loving partner
Anne; his devoted
children Josie and Arnold; treasured grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Joe’s service of remembrance was held Saturday, October 29, 2011 at Our Lady
of the Sacred Heart
Cathedral, The Pas, Manitoba with James Hemauer presiding. Memories of the
heart were shared by
granddaughter Karen Ballantyne and Robert Aspen. A scripture reading was
proclaimed by Debbie
Lane. Urn bearer was grandson Brad Olson. Honor guard was the Royal Canadian
Legion Branch #19.
A private family interment was held at Riverside Catholic Cemetery, The Pas,
MB. In lieu of flowers,
donations are welcome to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 19, Box 478, The
Pas, MB, R9A 1K6
Orville Thomas Taylor
(1940-2007)
Orville
was born Monday, April 15, 1940 at Ochre River, MB. He grew up on a farm
near Rorketon, MB, attending school in Million, Coronation School and
finished grades nine to 12 in Rorketon. Orville went to work with CNR
throughout Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. In 1966, Orville left the
railway to farm near Rorketon. Orville married Adeline Smigelski, May 18,
1968 and in 1971 they moved to The Pas where he worked for Fulmore
Construction and Northpoint Construction. Orville lived to enjoy his most
prized possessions, his daughters-in-law and his five grandchildren, whom
he thought to be the most beautiful gift a man could receive. Orville
passed away Monday, January 15, 2007 at St. Anthony's Hospital, The Pas,
with his family at his side, aged 66 years. Orville is survived by his
loving wife, Adeline Carol; his son Thomas Michael and granddaughters,
Christa and Kelly of Matsumoto, Japan; his son Mark Orville and
daughter-in-law Corrie, and grandchildren, Ty David, Austin Michael, and
Sarah Minnie Marguerite of Dufresne, MB; mother-in-law, Minnie Smigelski;
and many extended family. Orville was predeceased by his parents, Thomas
and Mary Taylor; brother Roger William; and his father-in-law Mike
Smigelski. Prayers and visitation were held Sunday, January 21, 7:00 p.m.
at the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Holy Ghost, The Pas, MB. Divine
Funeral Liturgy was held Monday, January 22, 2:00 p.m. at Saints Peter
Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, Rorketon, MB with Rev. George Malik
presiding. Interment followed in the Parish Cemetery. Pallbearers, Mark
Taylor, Thomas Taylor, Peter Smigelski, Phillip Guadry, Kevin Affleck,
Jerry Stauffer. Honorary pallbearers: All those whose lives Orville
touched.
Robert
Peter "Bob" Seidel (1913-2007)
Robert Seidal was born on Wednesday, June 4,
1913 at Bruno, Saskatchewan, to Paul and Gertrude
Seidel. Bob was the second youngest of ten children. Bob left for Flin
Flon, Manitoba in 1939 to work
with his brother-in-law, Ralph Gardwine. The following years were spent in
the Canadian Armed
Forces building transit ways in northern British Colombia. In 1945 Robert
left the military to come to
The Pas to operate a dairy farm. He was united in marriage to Dorothy
Pulvermacher on December 3.
1949 in the little chapel of the Bishop’s House in The Pas. Their marriage
brought five wonderful
children into their lives: Bobbi, Rod, Paul, Pat, and Sylvia, These
children would then offer their loving
parents ten grandchildren and six great grandchildren. In 1958 Bob started
Arctic Auto Wrecking
where many a part was sold for "double or nothing." Bob was an Allis
Chalmers dealer and he had a
vehicle storage facility when the city of Thompson was being built. He
enjoyed an active livelihood of
farming in our community. Bob was a country mechanic, but it could be
argued he fixed things
because he was too tight to buy a new one! Following his retirement, Bob
did some traveling with his
lovely wife to Arizona, Las Vegas, Wisconsin, Churchill, Nova Scotia and
Prince Edward Island. Bob
celebrated various accomplishments and milestones in and throughout the
community. Bob’s faith
was very important to him and his family. He was an active member of the
Knights of Columbus in
The Pas where he was a past Grand Knight and an Honourary Life Member. He
was also a Past
President of The Pas Chamber of Commerce; President of the Farmers’
Association; member of the
Port of Churchill Committee; active with The Pas Trappers’ Festival;
founded the Northern Lights
Square Dance Club; a trustee of the school board; started the first local
rodeo; and was an active
member of The Pas Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. In short, he
enjoyed an active social life
which frequently included barn dances in his early years of marriage. Bob
leaves a lasting legacy that
will continue to celebrate his finest treasurers of family and friends. He
passed away at age 94 on
Tuesday, August 28, 2007 at St. Paul’s Personal Care Home in The
Pas.
Hilary
(Orest) Pidskalny (1936-2007)
With family by his side, Orest Pidskalny of The Pas, MB passed away after
a lengthy battle with
Cancer at St. Paul's Personal Care Home on September
16, 2007 at the age of 71 years. Orest,
son of Helen (Cychmistruk) and
Frank Pidskalny was born February 22, 1936 on the Pidskalny
homestead in
Ethelbert, MB. After completing his schooling in The Pas, he worked for CN
Tele-communications. Life changed when on April 20, 1968 Orest married
Teresa (Polowy) Hutton.
In 1974 Orest went to work as a Scaler for CFI,
which later became Manfor, Repap, and currently Tolko.
Having retired from
this company as Production Supervisor, Woodlands Division, in January
1995, he
continued part time for several years at Tolko then worked along
side his wife as Mr. Fix It at Home
Hardware. Orest loved being with his
wife Teresa, enjoying beautiful sunsets and visits with their dear
friends
at their home at Clearwater Lake. Orest was always up for fishing, hunting
and picking berries,
often bringing home his bounty in his metal lunchbox.
He loved the outdoors and often fed and
photographed a variety of animals
off his doorstep. Orest was a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus and
active
member of the Catholic Church. He was also an Honorary Trapper and
Official Photographer for
the Northern Manitoba Trapper's Festival. Orest
was a sports fan, baseball Hall of Fame inductee and
hockey coach. Orest
is survived by family who celebrate his life; wife, Teresa Pidskalny;
son,
Rod (Heather King) and Andrew Pidskalny of Swan River, MB; daughter, Wendy
(Andy) Matthew,
Evan and Hannah Koenig of Winnipeg, MB; son, Scott (Tanya)
Ashley and Amanda Pidskalny of
The Pas, MB; sister, Ida (Frank) Saskowski;
sister-in-law Pat (John) Phillips, as well as many other
relatives and
friends. Orest was predeceased by his parents, Frank and Helen Pidskalny,
in-laws,
Walter and Mary Polowy and many other relatives. Orest was a very
special man and will be missed
by all.