Obituary of Joseph Boudreau

BOUDREAU, Joseph Leon With heavy hearts and loving memories, our family announces the passing of our father, grandfather, and great grandfather Joseph Leon Boudreau on April 20, 2016. Leon was born in Six Roads, New Brunswick on April 16, 1930 to a family of 9 children. He met and married the love of his life, Lillian in St. John, New Brunswick and they shared just over 61 years together. When their fourth child was born, dad moved his family by train to Windsor, added two more children and then later moved to Colchester Village. He started Boudreau Construction in 1958, and is still in operation and thriving today. He leaves his family with a rich legacy of beautiful and special memories of a father who dedicated his whole life to raising and helping his children. There were family and neighbourhood baseball games in Shore Acres Park. At Christmas time, dad would purchase a truckload of Christmas trees to sell on an empty lot on Rankin Street in Windsor so that there would be enough money to buy gifts for his 6 children, often doing most of the shopping on Christmas Eve. There were countless weekend family outings to Point Pelee to escape the city heat until he bought a cottage in Colchester Village. Dad worked side by side in his construction business with both of his sons and passed on his love of building, his work ethic and his love of family. There wasn't anything he could not build, repair or invent to do a special project. He loved large family gatherings and Sunday barbecue breakfasts with all the neighbours. He was blessed with many grandchildren and great grandchildren and he loved holding and helping grandma to care for all these new babies that came into his life. When he was finally able to retire, he and mom wintered in Florida or Texas. He loved to dance, and while they could, mom and dad went dancing almost every week. Dad leaves this world to join his wife Lillian who went before him in 2012, a great granddaughter Lily Danielle in 2015, his parents Pierre and Venerande, his brothers Jacques, Anthony, George, Leon (baby) and sisters Alice, Jean and Margaret. His memory will be cherished in the hearts of his children Danny (Linda), Rita Boutette (Joe), Sandy Hernandez (Reg), Kathy Ouellette (Jim), Tony (Beth) and Laura Findlay (Bill), his grandchildren Neil (Jessica), Ben (Masayo), Doug, Mindy (Barry), Joey (Kait), Kevin, Liz, Michael, Andrea (Pat), Nathan, Nicholas (Kelly), Chelsea, Lauren (Jordan), Melissa (Dave), Ashley (Paul) and Jordanne (Adam). Great grandpa of Seth, Zachary, Noah, Hiroji, Kobi, Everly, late Lily, Maddox, Remi, Hannah, Harper, Hadley, Angie, Mikey and Meadow. Dear brother of Victor (Edna). Public Visitation on Saturday April 23, 2016 from 2-5 & 7-9 p.m. at GERALD A. SMITH FUNERAL HOME 197 King St. W. Harrow. Cremation has taken place and a private family funeral will be held on Monday April 25, 2016 at 11:00 at the funeral home. Following the service, dad and mom will be buried together at the Colchester Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Parkinson's Society or to Ronald McDonald House to honour his great granddaughter Lily. Our family wishes to acknowledge and thank the nurses on the second floor at Leamington District Hospital, Dr. Kelton and the staff of Royal Oak Nursing Home for the wonderful care you gave our dad during his final days. We are grateful for the gentleness, patience and compassion that you showed each one of us as you guided us through dad's illness. We also extend thanks to Harrowood and Sun Parlour Nursing Home for being part of his extended family during the past few years. In our hearts we know that dad and mom are dancing cheek to cheek to the beautiful Tennessee waltz. We love you forever! You may send your online condolences at www.geraldasmith.ca Saturday April 23, 2016, 2-5 p.m. - 7-9 p.m. at Gerald A. Smith Funeral Home Click for Map and Directions Monday April 25, 2016, 11:00 a.m. at Gerald A. Smith Funeral Home Click for Map and Directions