NECROLOGUE
“Every life is noted and is cherished, and nothing loved is ever lost or perished.”
Madeleine L’Engle


 JEAN-MARIE THIBAULT, P.M.É.

Jean-Marie Thibault, p.m.é.
(1932-2023)

 
Father Jean-Marie Thibault, a priest of the Société des Missions-Étrangères, died in Laval on December 9, 2023, at the age of 91 years and 2 months. Born in Ste-Rose-du-Dégelis (Témiscouata) on September 14, 1932, he was the son of Charles Thibault and Alma Dumont. He did his secondary studies at Rimouski Seminary and Collège St-Louis in Edmundston, NB, then his theological studies at the Grand Séminaire des Missions-Étrangères in Pont-Viau. Ordained a priest on June 28, 1959, he left for the Philippines on September 12, 1960, where he worked as a missionary until 1975. He was also a missionary in Honduras (1985-89).

In Canada, he ministered at St-Jacques-de-Madawaska, NB (1977-80), the Sœurs de l'Immaculée-Conception, St-Sulpice (1980-85), Mount St-Joseph Hospital, Vancouver, BC (1989-92), Fraternité Val-des-Rapides, Laval (1995-2000) and the Sœurs du Christ-Roi (2001-15). He also worked in missionary formation (2010-14). At the time of his death, he was living at Maison centrale (Laval).

In addition to his missionary confreres, he is survived by several nephews, nieces and many other relatives and friends.
A time of prayer will be held at the Maison centrale of the Société des Missions-Étrangères, located at 180 Place Juge-Desnoyers, Laval (Pont-Viau), H7G 1A4, on Tuesday, December 19, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.

His funeral service will be held at the same location on Wednesday, December 20, at 2 p.m., followed by the placement of his urn in the columbarium. In his memory, donations to the Foreign Missions Society would be greatly appreciated.






 M. PATRICE PICARD, P.M.É.

Fr Patrice Picard, p.m.e
(1934-2023)


Father Patrice Picard, a Missions-Étrangères priest, died in Laval on December 3, 2023, at the age of 89 years and 8 months. Born in Drummond, NB, on March 16, 1934, he was the son of Joseph Picard and Arthémise Laforest. He received his high school education at Université St-Joseph in Memramcook, NB, and at the Séminaire de Philosophie in Montreal, followed by theological studies at the Grand Séminaire des Missions-Étrangères in Pont-Viau. 

Ordained a priest on June 29, 1958, he left for the Philippines on October 16, 1962, after studying Canon Law and Pastoral Theology in Rome (1959-62). In the Philippines, where he was Chancellor for the Archdiocese of Davao (1966-68), then Vicar General, Chancellor and Procurator of the Diocese of Digos (1984-87) and Regional Superior (1978-84; 87-90; 1997-2003), he worked as a missionary until 2011.

Returning to Canada, he ministered in Drummond, NB, from 2011 to 2018. At the time of his death, he was living at Maison centrale (Laval).

In addition to his missionary confreres, he is survived by his brothers Gilbert, Laurier, Réal (Marcelle Pelletier), Alyre (Lucille Bédard), Maurice (Jean Godbout), his sisters Marie-Mai (Élide-J. Desjardins), Huguette (Georges Cottreau), Lorraine (Ronald Gagnon) his brother-in-law (Gilles Gagnon), as well as nephews, nieces and many other relatives and friends.


A time of prayer will be held at the Maison centrale de la Société des Missions-Étrangères, 180 place Juge-Desnoyers, Laval (Pont-Viau), H7G 1A4, Thursday, December 14, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.
His funeral service will be held at the same location on Friday, December 15, at 2 p.m.
In his memory, donations to the Société des Missions-Étrangères would be greatly appreciated.




 M. ROBERT BIGRAS, P.M.É.


Robert Bigras, p.m.é.
(1944-2023) 
 
Father Robert Bigras, a priest of the Société des Missions-Étrangères, died in Laval on December 2, 2023, at the age of 79 years and 5 months. Born in Montreal on June 14, 1944, he was the son of Adélard Bigras and Éva Sabourin. He received his secondary education at Collège St-Viateur de Montréal-Nord and École Normale de Rigaud, followed by theological studies at Séminaire des Missions-Étrangères de Pont-Viau and Université de Montréal. Ordained a priest on June 10, 1979, he left for Honduras on September 22 of the same year, where he worked as a missionary until 1988. He also worked in Sudan, Africa (1990-92), before returning to Honduras in 1992-2002 and again from 2006-17. 
 
In Canada, he ministered in Montreal (1989-90), and at Missionary Animation (2003-06). At the time of his death, he was living at Maison centrale (Laval).
 
In addition to his missionary confreres, he is survived by his sisters Françoise (Claude Mongeau) and Lise, as well as nephews, nieces and many other relatives and friends. 
 
A time of prayer will be held at the Maison centrale de la Société des Missions-Étrangères, 180 place Juge-Desnoyers, Laval (Pont-Viau), H7G 1A4, Thursday, January 11, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. 
 
His funeral will be celebrated in the same location on Friday, January 12, 2024, at 2 p.m., followed by the placement of his urn in the columbarium. In his memory, donations to the Société des Missions-Étrangères would be greatly appreciated.
 




 MAURICE LABBÉ, P.M.É.

Maurice Labbé, p.m.é.
(1933-2023)

  
Father Maurice Labbé, a priest of the Société des Missions-Étrangères, died in Laval on November 5, 2023, at the age of 90 years and 7 months. Born in Sherbrooke on March 27, 1933, he was the son of Émile Labbé and Germaine Turgeon. He completed his secondary studies at the Séminaire de Sherbrooke and his theological studies at the Grand Séminaire des Missions-Étrangères de Pont-Viau. Ordained a priest on June 29, 1958, he left for Japan on September 12, 1959, where he worked as a missionary until 2017. He was Superior of the Japan Circumscription from 1981 to 1987. At the time of his death, he was retired at the Central House.
 
He joins his elder brother, the late Léandre (late Magella Paradis), and is survived by his missionary confreres, brothers and sisters: Gisèle (late Philippe Turgeon), Fernande (Lucien Martin), Monique (André Hamel), Jacqueline (Gérard Martin), Richard (Pierrette Lacasse), Rosaire (Claudette Armstrong), Fernand (Marie-Aimée Melançon), Suzanne (Yves Legros), Claudette (Ronald Paré), Robert (Manon Boisvert), Daniel (Joanne Boisvert), André (Diane Proulx), François (Louise Bolduc) as well as numerous nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends. 
 
A time of prayer will be held at the Maison centrale de la Société des Missions-Étrangères, located at 180, place Juge-Desnoyers, Laval (Pont-Viau), H7G 1A4, on Friday, November 10, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. 
 
His funeral service will be held at the same location on Saturday, November 11, at 2 p.m., followed by the placement of his urn in the columbarium. In his memory, donations to the Foreign Missions Society would be greatly appreciated.





Armand Lalande, p.m.é.
(1933-2022)


Father Armand Lalande, a priest of the Foreign Missions Society, died in Laval on July 2, at the age of 88 years and 6 months. Born in Plantagenet, Ontario, on December 23, 1933, he was the son of Éphraïm Lalande and Édesse Leduc. He did his secondary studies at the Petit and Grand Séminaire d'Ottawa and his theological studies at the Grand Séminaire des Missions-Etrangères de Pont-Viau. Ordained a priest on June 30, 1958, he left for the Philippines on September 18, 1959 where he worked as a missionary until 1995.


In Canada, he ministered with the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (1975-80; 1997-2010) and worked at the General Commissariat of the Foreign Missions (1996-2019). At the time of his death, he was living in retirement at the Maison centrale de Pont-Viau.


He is survived by his missionary confreres, his brother Norbert (Madeline McCormick), as well as nephews, nieces and many other relatives and friends.


A time of prayer will be held at the Central House of the Society of Foreign Missions, 180 Place Juge-Desnoyers, Laval (Pont-Viau), H7G 1A4, Thursday, July 7, 2022, at 7:00 p.m.


His funeral will be celebrated in the same place on Friday July 8 at 2:00 p.m., followed by the placing of his urn in the columbarium. In his memory, donations to the Foreign Missions Society would be greatly appreciated.




André Rondeau, p.m.é.
(1942-2023)


Father André Rondeau, a priest of the Société des Missions-Étrangères, died in Laval on September 6, 2023, at the age of 80 years and 9 months. Born in Joliette on November 10, 1942, he was the son of Lucien-Léopold Rondeau and Émélie Palin. He completed his secondary studies at the Séminaire de Joliette and his theological studies at the Séminaire des Missions-Étrangères de Pont-Viau and at the Université de Montréal. Ordained a priest on May 17, 1970, he left for the Philippines on September 2, 1970, where he worked as a missionary until 1994. 
 
In Canada, he worked with Aboriginals in Longlac, diocese of Hearst, ON (1994-96), and with the Missions-Étrangères Welfare Service in Pont-Viau (1997-2012), of which he was director (1999-2012). He was also responsible for Camp Desjardins (2013-20). At the time of his death, he was retired from Maison centrale.
 
In addition to his missionary confreres, he is survived by his brother Michel (Nicole), sister Paulette and sisters-in-law Michelle Alary and Thérèse Forest, as well as nephews, nieces and many other relatives and friends. 
 A time of prayer will be held at the Maison centrale de la Société des Missions-Étrangères, located at 180 Place Juge-Desnoyers, Laval (Pont-Viau), H7G 1A4, on Friday, September 15, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. 
 
His funeral service will be held at the same location on Saturday, September 16, at 2 p.m., followed by the placement of his urn in the columbarium. In his memory, donations to the Foreign Missions Society would be greatly appreciated.





Gérald Veilleux, p.m.é.
(1945-2022)


Father Gérald Veilleux, a priest of the Foreign Missions Society, died in Lima, Peru, on November 18, 2022, at the age of 77 years and 4 months. Born in Beauceville on July 4, 1945, he was the son of Dominique Veilleux and Candide Lessard. He did his secondary studies at Collège Bourget de Rigaud and his theological studies at the Séminaire des Missions-Etrangères and at the Université de Montréal. Ordained a priest on June 2, 1974, he left for Peru on June 24 of the same year where he worked as a missionary until 2022.
 
In Canada, he worked in missionary animation in Pont-Viau from 1983 to 1986. 
 
He is survived by his missionary confreres, his brothers Léandre (Lisette Laprade), André (Jayanty), Jocelyn (Brigitte Fournier), his sister Gervaise (Alain Cadieux), as well as nephews, nieces and many other relatives and friends. 
 
His funeral took place on Monday, November 21, at 8:30 a.m. in the Cathedral of Pucallpa, presided over by Monsignor Augusto Martín Quijano Rodríguez, S.D.B., Apostolic Vicar of Pucallpa, followed by his burial in the Pucallpa cemetery.
 
A commemorative mass will be held on Saturday 26 November at 2pm, at the Central House of the Society of Foreign Missions, located at 180 place Juge-Desnoyers, Laval (Pont-Viau), H7G 1A4.



Denis Castonguay, p.m.é.
(1937-2022)


Father Denis Castonguay, a priest of the Foreign Missions Society, died in Laval on November 5, 2022, at the age of 85 years and 9 months. Born in St-Modeste (Rivière-du-Loup) on January 10, 1937, he was the son of Omer Castonguay and Bernadette Bastille. He did his secondary studies at the Externat classique of Rivière-du-Loup and at the Séminaire de Rimouski and his theological studies at the Grand Séminaire des Missions-Étrangères of Pont-Viau. Ordained a priest on December 20, 1964, he left on August 22, 1965 for Cuba, where he worked as a missionary until 1992.
 
In Canada, he was in charge of the General Secretariat (1995-2001) and continued to collaborate in this same service until 2008. During these years, he worked on the computerization of the Secretariat and the different Services of the Society of Foreign Missions in Quebec. At the time of his death, he was living in retirement at the Central House.
 
He is survived by his brother Vianney (Ghislaine Courcy), his sisters Hélène (Gaétan Thériault), Lucie (Clément Marquis) and Lise (Armand Dubé), his brother-in-law (Lionel Caron), as well as nephews, nieces and many other relatives and friends. 
 
A time of prayer will be held at the Central House of the Society of Foreign Missions, located at 180, place Juge-Desnoyers, Laval (Pont-Viau), H7G 1A4, Friday, November 11, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. 
 
His funeral will be celebrated in the same place on Saturday November 12 at 2:00 pm, followed by the placement of his urn in the columbarium. In his memory, donations to the Foreign Missions Society would be greatly appreciated.




Armand Lalande, p.m.é.
(1933-2022)


Father Armand Lalande, a priest of the Foreign Missions Society, died in Laval on July 2, at the age of 88 years and 6 months. Born in Plantagenet, Ontario, on December 23, 1933, he was the son of Éphraïm Lalande and Édesse Leduc. He did his secondary studies at the Petit and Grand Séminaire d'Ottawa and his theological studies at the Grand Séminaire des Missions-Etrangères de Pont-Viau. Ordained a priest on June 30, 1958, he left for the Philippines on September 18, 1959 where he worked as a missionary until 1995.


In Canada, he ministered with the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (1975-80; 1997-2010) and worked at the General Commissariat of the Foreign Missions (1996-2019). At the time of his death, he was living in retirement at the Maison centrale de Pont-Viau.


He is survived by his missionary confreres, his brother Norbert (Madeline McCormick), as well as nephews, nieces and many other relatives and friends.


A time of prayer will be held at the Central House of the Society of Foreign Missions, 180 Place Juge-Desnoyers, Laval (Pont-Viau), H7G 1A4, Thursday, July 7, 2022, at 7:00 p.m.


His funeral will be celebrated in the same place on Friday July 8 at 2:00 p.m., followed by the placing of his urn in the columbarium. In his memory, donations to the Foreign Missions Society would be greatly appreciated.



Lucien Beaulieu, p.m.é.
(1925-2022)

Father Lucien Beaulieu, a priest of the Foreign Missions Society, died in Laval on May 27, 2022, at the age of 97 years and 1 month. Born in St-Louis-du-Ha-Ha (Témiscouata) on April 14, 1925, he was the son of Georges Beaulieu and Alida Lévesque. He did his secondary studies at the Séminaire St-Joseph de Trois-Rivières and his theological studies at the Grand Séminaire des Missions-Étrangères de Pont-Viau. Ordained a priest on June 29, 1951, he left on September 11, 1952 for Japan, where he worked as a missionary from 1952 to 1967 and from 1970 to 1973.

In Canada he worked in Missionary Animation (1967-69) and in the formation of future priests (1969-70). He was also a member of the Central Council of Foreign Missions (1973-79), Superior of the Central House (1979-91), Regional Superior of the Canada Group and Head of the Welfare Service (1992-99). In addition, he was chaplain to the Good Council Sisters and collaborator with the benefactors (2000-09). At the time of his death, he was living in retirement at the Maison centrale de Pont-Viau.

In addition to his missionary confreres, he is survived by several nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends.

A time of prayer will be held at the Central House of the Society of Foreign Missions, 180 Place Juge-Desnoyers, Laval (Pont-Viau), H7G 1A4, on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at 7 p.m.

His funeral will be celebrated in the same place on Wednesday June 22 at 2 p.m., followed by the placing of his urn in the columbarium. In his memory, donations to the Foreign Missions Society would be greatly appreciated.




Robert Bernier, p.m.é.
(1925-2022)

Father Robert Bernier, a priest of the Foreign Missions Society, died in Laval on May 22, 2022, at the age of 96 years and 6 months. Born in Montreal on November 11, 1925, he was the son of Georges Bernier and Eugénie Giroux. He did his secondary studies at the École Chomedey-De Maisonneuve, at the Collège Marie-Médiatrice and at the Séminaire de Philosophie de Montréal, then his theological studies at the Grand Séminaire des Missions-Étrangères de Pont-Viau. Ordained a priest on December 28, 1952, he left on September 21, 1954 for Japan where he worked as a missionary until 2000.

In Canada, he was a professor at the Collège de l'Assomption in Moncton, N.B. (1953-54) and a collaborator at the General Secretariat (2000-09). At the time of his death, he was living in retirement at the Central House.

He is survived by his missionary confreres, nephews and nieces as well as many other relatives and friends.

A time of prayer will be held at the Central House of the Society of Foreign Missions, 180 Place Juge-Desnoyers, Laval (Pont-Viau), H7G 1A4, on Monday, June 13, 2022 at 7 p.m.

His funeral will be celebrated in the same place on Tuesday June 14 at 2 p.m., followed by the placing of his urn in the columbarium. In his memory, donations to the Foreign Missions Society would be greatly appreciated

Jude Janelle, p.m.é. 
(1933-2022)

Father Jude Janelle, a priest of the Foreign Missions Society, died in Laval on May 19, 2022, at the age of 88 years and 6 months. Born in St-Cyrille-de-Wendover (Drummond) on October 28, 1933, he was the son of Georges-Émile Janelle and Marie Côté. He did his secondary studies at the Seminary of Nicolet and his theological studies at the Grand Séminaire des Missions-Etrangères of Pont-Viau. Ordained a priest on June 28, 1959, he left for Honduras on September 18, 1960, where he worked as a missionary until 1985. He was Regional Superior from 1979 to 1985.

In Canada, he was a member of the Central Council, responsible for the Welfare Service (1985-91) and as Econome General (1993-2003). Afterwards, he continued to collaborate in the General Bursar's Office until 2019. At the time of his death, he was living in retirement in Pont-Viau.

He is survived by his brother Gilbert (Huguette Lambert), his sisters Bernadette (Cyrille Chapdelaine), Aline (the late Jean-Jacques Boisvert), his sister-in-law Marie-France Turcotte, as well as nephews, nieces and many other relatives and friends.
A time of prayer will be held at the Central House of the Society of Foreign Missions, located at 180, place Juge-Desnoyers, Laval (Pont-Viau), H7G 1A4, on June 10, 2022, at 7:00 p.m.

His funeral will be celebrated in the same place on Saturday June 11th at 2:00 pm, followed by the placement of his urn in the columbarium. In his memory, donations to the Foreign Missions Society would be greatly appreciated.



Guy Lemay, p.m.é.
(1933-2022)

Father Guy Lemay, a priest of the Foreign Missions Society, died in Laval on Wednesday, March 9, 2022, at the age of 88 years and 6 months. Born in Ste-Croix-de-Lotbinière on August 26, 1933, he was the son of Oscar Lemay and Edwilda Laroche. He did his secondary studies at the Séminaire de Québec and his theological studies at the Grand Séminaire de Québec. Ordained a priest for the diocese of Quebec on June 20, 1957, he left for Cuba on September 15, 1958 as a priest associated with the Foreign Missions Society. In 1963, he became a member of the Society. In addition to working in Cuba (1958-65; 2007-08), he was a missionary in Honduras (1966-67) and Argentina (1967-2007) where he was regional superior (1969-72).
 
In Canada, he ministered in the Montreal area (1978-79), with the Good Counsel Sisters, and in senior citizens' residences (2009-13). At the time of his death, he was living in retirement in Pont-Viau.
 
He is survived by his brother Rodrigue (Marthe Fortin), his sisters Pierrette (Roland Lacroix) and Françoise, as well as nephews, nieces and many other relatives and friends.
 
A time of prayer will be held at the Central House of the Society of Foreign Missions, located at 180, place Juge-Desnoyers, Laval (Pont-Viau), H7G 1A4, on Thursday April 28, 2022, at 7:00 p.m.
 
His funeral will be celebrated in the same place on Friday April 29th at 2:00 pm, followed by the placement of his urn in the columbarium. 
In his memory, donations to the Foreign Missions Society would be greatly appreciated.


Gervais Turgeon, p.m.é.
(1936-2022)



Father Gervais Turgeon, a priest of the Foreign Missions Society, died in Montreal on January 28, 2022, at the age of 85 years and 4 months. Born in Dolbeau on September 23, 1936, he was the son of Alphonse Turgeon and Marie-Rose Gendron. He did his secondary studies at the Collège de Ste-Anne-de-la-Pocatière and his theological studies at the Grand Séminaire des Missions-Étrangères de Pont-Viau. Ordained a priest on July 2, 1960 and after studying philosophy in Rome (1960-63), he left on September 16, 1963 for the Philippines, where he worked as a missionary until 1989. He was also a missionary in Sudan from 1994 to 2012.

In Canada he worked in the Vocation Service (1977-81), in the Mission Promotion Service (1989-93) and in the Welfare Service (2011-12). He was also Superior of the Canada Region (2012-18). At the time of his death, he was living in retirement at the Central House.

In addition to his fellow missionaries, he is survived by his brother Denys and his wife, as well as nephews, nieces and many other relatives and friends.


The funeral of Gervais Turgeon will take place at the central House (Laval) Saturday March 26, 2022 at 14h00. The day before, Friday March 24 at 19h00, a time of prayer will take place at the central House. 


In his memory, donations to the Foreign Missions Society would be greatly appreciated.

Frank Bélec, p.m.é.
(1937-2021)


Father Frank Bélec, a priest of the Foreign Missions Society, died in Laval on December 12, 2021, at the age of 84. Born in Montreal on December 5, 1937, he was the son of Harris Bélec and Azilda Anglehart. He did his secondary studies at the Académie St-Léon-de-Westmount and at the Séminaire Marie-Réparatrice de Montréal, then his theological studies at the Grand Séminaire des Missions-Étrangères de Pont-Viau, Laval. Ordained a priest on December 23, 1962, he left on September 17, 1963 for Chile, where he worked as a missionary until 2014.

In Canada, he was director of studies at Pont-Viau (1969-71), professor at the University of Montreal (1970-71) and editor of the Missions Étrangères magazine (1986-89). At the time of his death, he was living in retirement at the Maison Centrale.
He is survived by his missionary confreres, his sister Thérèse (Bertrand Forgues), nephews, nieces and many other relatives and friends.

A time of prayer will be held at the Central House of the Society of Foreign Missions, 180 Place Juge-Desnoyers, Laval (Pont-Viau), H7G 1A4, Friday, December 17, 2021, at 7:00 p.m.

His funeral will be celebrated at the same location on Saturday, December 18 at 9:30 a.m., followed by the placement of his urn in the columbarium. In his memory, donations to the Foreign Missions Society would be greatly appreciated.


Obituary Notice.
Marcel Dionne, p.m.é.
(1929-2021)

Father Marcel Dionne, a priest of the Foreign Missions Society, died in Montreal on November 3, 2021, at the age  ...

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