Obituary of Eddie Levesque

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 thirteen), 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 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 will be sorrily missed by: Chris Levesque

 

(Cassie) and his children Tyson, Austin, and Corisa; Chantelle Cartman (Dave) and her children

 

Jondavid and Tierney; Lindsay Firestone (Bob) and her children Jack, Ellie, and Lola;

 

Stacey Levesque (Candice Reid) and his daughter Emma; Quentin Levesque (Tricia) and his children

 

Oliver and Everley; Lance Levesque (Sarah) and his sons Fionn and Malcolm; and

 

Jennie Ruschmeier (Eric) and her daughter Tayla.

 

 

Eddie had many fond memories he had shared with the many Lyon and Levesque nieces,

 

nephews, and the Stack family who were not only great neighbours and friends—they have

 

always been considered family.

 

 

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 was held on Friday, May 12th from 9 to 11:45 a.m.

A Celebration of Life Presentation and Reception followed at

 

Saint John Chrysostom Parish Hall from 12:30 – 4:00pm.

 

 
A family grave-side service took place at Malloch Road Cemetery and was

officiated by Reverend Milton Fraser.

 

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

 

A Legion Tribute took place at the funeral home on

Friday morning, May 12th at 8:45 a.m.