(1929-2023)
The family announces with great sorrow our father’s death on Saturday November 18, 2023 at the age of 94 years, at Extendicare Falconbridge in Sudbury. Born January 2, 1929 in Hammond, Ontario to the late Mériza (née Gélineau) and Sylvio Bélanger. Beloved spouse of his first wife Alice (née Bertrand) for 47 years, until her passing in 1998. He is survived by his wife Jeannine (Lagacé) whom he married in 1999. Dearly loved father of Maurice (Monique), Suzanne (Fern Benoit), Monique (Mike Paquette), Denise (George Black) and Micheline (Suzanne Lapointe). Predeceased by 2 infant children, Louise and Alphonse. Cherished grandfather of 9 adoring grandchildren: Roxanne Bélanger (Jeff Budd), Roger Bélanger (predeceased 2015) (Justine Bélanger-Gorgi), Rémi Bélanger, Martin Benoit (Lana), Louise Goggin (Jamie), Jason Paquette, Trevor Paquette (Julie Lin), Amanda Brouillette (Paul) and Nicole Jerome (Jesse). Great grandfather to 16 very special great grandchildren: Jonah and Olivia Budd, Sébastien and Nikolas Bélanger; Maya, Katie and Sara Benoit, Leah Benoit (Milo Gaudin) and Samuel Goggin, Skyla and Ryker Paquette, Brittany Paquette-Lin, Zachary and Mackenzie Brouillette, Brooke and Joshua Jerome. He will also be missed by Jeannine’s family: Carole, Emily and Victoria Ryall, Robert and Ardeen, Craig and Kyle (predeceased 2023) Lagacé, Norman (predeceased 2016), Aristotle (predeceased 2023) and Zachariah Lagacé, Paul (Anne Lamoureux), Olivier and Kaleb Lagacé, as well as Stella Boyer, René Lagacé and Ken Lagacé. Dad is survived by one sister, Aurore Parent, of Belle River and predeceased by 9 brothers and 1 sister. He is also survived by sisters-in-law Jeannine Kingsley, Rosalie Bélanger and Margaret Kennedy, as well as many nieces and nephews. He worked for Palm Dairy in Sudbury until 1958, delivering dairy products to stores & homes, initially via horse & wagon. He then had a very successful career as a life insurance agent with London Life (now Canada Life), until his retirement in 1984 at age 55.
He enjoyed spending time with his family travelling and camping with the travel trailer and later at the cottage on Ironside Lake. We always so looked forward to going to the annual Bélanger family reunion weekend! Dad was always involved in the community including organizing the original Rose Marie playground, St. Dominique church and elementary school, Club Amical du Nouveau Sudbury, church food bank, to name just a few! He also sang in the church choir at St. Dominique and St. Jean de Brébeuf churches. In his younger days, he enjoyed hunting, fishing and gardening. The family would like to express our deepest and most sincere gratitude to staff on 3rd floor Extendicare Falconbridge, especially head nurse Jeanne, Eric and Milo for the exceptional care and compassion shown to our father during his time there. The family will receive family and friends at the Cooperative Funeral Home, 222 Lasalle Blvd. (at Notre-Dame), in Sudbury on Friday November 24th from 2 to 4 pm and 7 to 9 p.m. Funeral service on Saturday November 25th at 10:30 a.m. in St. Jean-de-Brébeuf Church, 26 Kathleen Street (located at Notre-Dame Avenue intersection), in Sudbury. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory to Maison McCulloch Hospice in Sudbury would be greatly appreciated. www.cooperativefuneralhome.ca