Obituary of Eddie Levesque

July 12, 1920 - February 7, 2023

 

Edward Levesque, affectionately known as “Eddie” or "Fast Eddie", passed away peacefully at the Arnprior and District Memorial Hospital surrounded by loved ones on Tuesday morning, February 7th, 2023, at the age of 102. He was a proud Veteran of World War II, serving in the Canadian Army as chef for the Officer's Mess. After the war, Ed worked at Kenwood Mills (Huyck Canada) until his retirement at the age of 65. He continued working as a handyman for 22 years, on a full-time volunteer basis, at the Galilee Centre until the age of 87.

 

Eddie is survived by his loving wife Mary Lou (nee Ritchie). He was predeceased by his first wife, of 65 years, Lois (nee Lyon) with whom he had five sons: John (Deb McCrodan) of Renfrew, Lloyd (Marion Clemow) of Renfrew, Brian (Kevin Ball) of Arnprior/Toronto, predeceased by Ken (Valerie Levesque) of Arnprior;

and ASHe of Victoria, B.C.

 

He was born in 1920 in Arnprior, Ontario, the eldest son of Florine and Florence Levesque (nee Gilmette). He was the last surviving child of eight. Eddie had 3 brothers: Roy (late Polly), Leonard (late Marion), and Leo (late Shirley), as well as 4 sisters: Florence Thacker (late Howard), Lois Keays (late Alfie),

Loretta (who passed away at the age of eleven), and Lillian Scheel (late Percy).

 

Even though he did not speak French, French-Canadian traditions were at the core of the way he and his siblings embraced life and chose to live. They enjoyed music and dance the most. Always wearing their heart on their sleeve, they laughed, cried, loved, and disagreed with passion. Most importantly family was paramount to all of them—it usually translated into Sunday dinners with as many people you could fit around a table. Afterwards the instruments came out, with the piano being at the centre of it all and they would jointly raise the roof. He will be missed by many nieces, nephews, and their children

on both the Lyon and Levesque sides of the family.

 

Community and the lives of others was always important to Eddie. He was President of the Union at Kenwood Mills for 10 years and during that time was instrumental in achieving equal pay for women who carried out the same job as their male counterparts. All his life he acted in a supporting fatherly roll for children who had absent fathers by fixing bicycles and mending broken hearts of children needing assistance when no one else was around. He was a Scout Master for more than 12 years and played an active role in the development of young boys to men. He was also known to act as a lifeguard in a pinch at the Arnprior Park if he saw a child in distress. In his 30s, 40s, and 50s he played the snare drum in the Royal Canadian Legion Pipe Band participating in many parades and band tattoos. When he wasn’t on parade, he was preparing for one. He was known as Mr. Christmas in town of Arnprior constructing elaborate Santa Claus floats

for over 30 years.

 

Ed’s descendants have always been at the centre of his loving heart. He held his 7 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren in highest esteem. He enjoyed being their mentor and entertainer. He had a tickle trunk full of props, costumes, and unique toys that would keep them entertained for hours. He will be sorrily missed by: Chris Levesque and his children Tyson, Austin, and Corisa; Chantelle Cartman and her children Jondavid and Tierney; Lindsay Firestone and her children Jack, Ellie, and Lola; Stacey Levesque and his daughter Emma; Quentin Levesque and his children Oliver and Everley; Lance Levesque and his sons Fionn and Malcolm;

and Jennie Levesque and her daughter Tayla.

 

His legacy will live on through the lives he has touched.

Special thanks to Dr. Padeanu, the nurses of the Arnprior and District Memorial Hospital, and Reverend Milton Fraser for their exemplary support during Ed’s Palliative Care and End-of-Life.

 

Eddie’s final care has been entrusted to the Pilon Family Funeral Home and Chapel Ltd., 50 John Street North, Arnprior where visitation will be held on Friday, May 12th from 9 to 10:45 a.m. A service to honour and remember Eddie’s life will follow in the Pilon Family Chapel at 11:00 a.m. and will be officiated by Reverend Milton Fraser. The service will be webcast live for those unable to attend. Interment, Malloch Road Cemetery, Arnprior. A reception will then be held in the St. John Chrysostom Parish Hall, Arnprior.

In memory of Eddie, please consider a donation to the Arnprior Regional Health Foundation.