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Obituary ~ Ernest Eli L’Heureux, 1916 - 2009
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Ernest L’Heureux was born Oct. 15, 1916 and passed away Oct. 1, 2009 at the age of 92 years.
Born in Jackfish, Sask., to Joe and Eva L’Heureux, he was the second son of seven children, including five girls. He was raised on his father’s ranch and his early years were spent as a cowboy.
Ernest came to Joussard in 1936 to visit his uncle, Paul L’Heureux, the Indian Agent on the Driftpile reserve. It was there he met his future wife, beautiful Corine Comeau, and his desire to move to Alberta was complete. They married in 1940 and raised seven children in Joussard.
On his second trip to Alberta in 1938 – his permanent move – he came out with a team of horses and a little caboose. It took him 14 days to make the trip across northern Saskatchewan and Alberta in late fall or early winter.
The cowboy became a fisherman, selling fish, raising mink and dairy farming. Eventually, he raised just beef cattle and closed his career raising horses and cows.
After his stint in the Army 1942-46, (Irish Fuseliers) he came home to the mink ranch and settled down to raising five boys and two girls.
He leaves to mourn his passing: his wife, Corine; his five sisters, Noella Byers, Lorette Lavoie, Lorraine Bru, Gladys Thompson and Beulah Corbeil; his children Leandre (Jo), Guy (Kathy), Real (Sonja), Dale (Wendy), Cheryl (Wayne) Kruger, Mark (Leslie) and Julie (Kevin) Stevens; 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
He was pre-deceased by his parents and an older brother, Fernand.
Ernest was standing on the banks of the Mackenzie River near Fort Simpson in 1984, awaiting the arrival of Pope John Paul II, when he had an epiphany. The river, the airport and the pilgrimage site were all locked in a deep dense fog preventing the Pope’s plane from landing. Ernest was standing on the banks of the river when the fog rolled back opening a path across the river.
“I felt just like Moses standing there watching the fog open a path to walk across.”
Another time while taking up the collection at Sunday Mass some dollar bills had missed the collection basket and fallen to the floor unnoticed by Ernest. A little three-year-old boy took notice and said, “Hey God! You dropped some money.”
Now the trip is complete. Ernest has gone home to be with God.
The funeral for Ernest was held at St. Anne Roman Catholic Church in Joussard Oct. 5 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Virgilio Baratto O.M.I. officiating. The eulogist was Leandre L’Heureux, the cross bearer was Darcy Brisson. Pallbearers were Blair Corbell, Brent L’Heureux, Chance L’Heureux, Danny L’Heureux, Michel L’Heureux and Trevor Joseph L’Heureux.
Interment followed at St. Anne’s Roman Catholic Cemetery in Joussard.
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