ANTHONY J. MOREAU

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ANTHONY J. MOREAU It is with great sorrow that our family announces the passing of our beloved uncle Anthony, whose kind and gentle spirit now belongs to the ages and whose memory we shall never forget. His life's journey was faithfully completed on Friday, June 16, 2006 after a short yet courageous battle with cancer of the esophagus. A lifelong bachelor he leaves to mourn his older brother George, as well as an extremely close extended family including: his sister-in-law Joyce; his nephew Paul, his wife Karen and their children Dane, Cole and Fallon; his nephew Christopher and his wife Denise; his nephew Michael, his wife Darlene and their children Pierce and Adara; his other nephew Paul, his wife Louise and their children Stephen, Michael and Andrew; his other close nieces and nephews Lucy, Jean Ann, Connie, Blake and Bill and their spouses; and numerous other relatives across the country. Anthony was predeceased by his mother Ann Patricia, father Con Sr. and brothers Jack, Blake and Con Jr. Anthony was born in Winnipeg in 1930 growing up during the hard years of the Depression on Arlington Street and attending St. Edward's church and school, and later St. Paul's High School. In those days, life revolved around the church and he served daily mass with his brothers and helped the Sisters at the neighbouring convent. As a young boy he developed a special relationship with his father who in his later years faced the amputation of one of his limbs and relied upon Anthony for help in getting around, due to his older brothers being off fighting the war. After his father died in 1947, Anthony embraced the needs of his mother Ann Patricia and saw to it that she was cared for and had constant companionship down through the years. A loving son who never married, Anthony lived with his mother until her death at the age of 90, faithfully remaining at her side through old age and infirmity. His love and sacrifice for her was a remarkable thing to behold and one of the defining aspects of his life, as was the selfless service he provided to all members of his extended family. As a professional man Anthony enjoyed a long and fulfilling business partnership with his younger brother Con, with whom he was extremely close all of his life, and also worked in later years with his closest nephews Paul, Christopher and Michael. He and Con focused on building business interests in manufacturing, distribution, wholesale, retail, marketing and franchising in their more than 40 years together in the marketplace, and pursued other interests when the three boys became involved as well. A troubleshooter extraordinaire he could always be relied upon to address the most challenging of business situations with a trademark grace, style and inventiveness that the rest of us could only admire and hope to someday have ourselves. His retirement years saw him drive a limousine, which was more relaxation in his view than work, and allowed him to keep a hand in the action as he liked to describe it and meet an endless parade of interesting characters as he shuttled them around town. Anthony was also blessed with a pure and powerful tenor voice and often sang at family gatherings and events, stunning all present with his effortless range and incredible resonance. With formal training he might have enjoyed a career on the musical stage, so striking and impressive was this natural gift, which he always generously shared. An engaged citizen, he inspired everyone who knew him with his dedication to challenging injustice and government abuse wherever he saw it. A founding member of the Reform Party of Canada, and a one-time candidate for Winnipeg city council, he could often be seen taking the microphone at political conventions to thunder forth on protecting citizens from runaway power, or chiding Preston Manning, the now Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other party officials about wayward policies and the need for change. He was a voracious reader and news clipper, using his research to compile and dash off countless letters and emails to political leaders of all stripes in an effort to create a better future for Canada and its people and to safeguard their everyday freedoms. He loved Canada and everything it represented and wanted it to remain that shining beacon of tolerance and universality in a world racked with war and oppression. An insightful thinker, he was renowned for coming up with comments that would at first listening appear to be perplexing and quirky, but would soon reveal themselves as brilliant and incisive lines of thinking. As such he was always sought out for his counsel and his voice was always accorded a place of honour at the family table. Anthony's sudden diagnosis of cancer of the esophagus was a heart-breaking experience for the entire family and an abrupt as well as completely unanticipated reversal for him personally, especially being a man who was otherwise in perfect health and who visited the fitness centre several days a week and looked after himself with meticulous discipline. True to character, he was stubborn, brave and tenacious in the face of the enemy and retained a spirit of hopefulness even through to his final days. He passed peacefully in the placid surroundings of Riverview Hospital, its grounds and its fine staff. Although short in stature, he was an absolute giant and gem of a man whose kindness and consideration of others knew no bounds. Whatever the family needed, and whenever they needed it, Anthony was always there to help get things done. His life was an incredible gift from God and his canvass remains as a beautiful self-portrait of a spirit that generously served others and embraced the principles of unconditional love. He will continue to live on in our hearts and in our minds, and we will honour his memory through our love for one another, our commitment to address injustice where we see it, and our belief that one day we will be reunited together for eternity in a nobler life in God. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (Timothy 4:7) Prayers and a celebration of Anthony's life will be held Thursday, June 22 at 8:00 p.m. at Holy Rosary Church, 510 River Ave. Family and friends will be invited to share their own remembrances of the man at this service. Pallbearers will be Paul Moreau, Christopher Moreau, Michael Moreau, Dane Moreau, Cole Moreau and Paul Moreau Sr. Cremation will follow and Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated by Fr. Sam Argenziano on Friday, June 23 at 12:00 p.m., also at Holy Rosary Church. Interment will take place at Assumption Cemetery, 3990 Portage Ave. and a gathering of family and friends will immediately follow at the Holiday Inn West, 2520 Portage Ave. The Moreau family would like to extend their special thanks to all of the doctors, nurses, health care professionals, spiritual advisors and friends who cared and provided for Anthony during his illness and showed him so many kindnesses. In lieu of flowers the family respectfully requests that donations be made to the Manitoba Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation. Neil Nardal Inc. 949-2200

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 22, 2006