JOSEPH ALFRED (ALF) MICHAUD

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JOSEPH ALFRED (ALF) MICHAUD Peacefully, on Sunday, May 18, 2008, at the Riverview Health Centre, Joseph Alfred Michaud passed away at the age of 96 years. Alf is survived by his beloved wife of 77 years, Marion; sister Laura; daughter Dayle; grandchildren, Joseph (Christie), Tanya (Scott), Sacha (Viki), Marion, Laila, Matt (Jen), Andre (Lolly); nine great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; great-nieces and great-nephews. He also leaves to mourn special nephew, Roly Michaud of Vancouver. Alf was predeceased by his son Neil in 2006, grandson, Cole in 1976, his parents, and nine siblings. Alf was born on October 3, 1911 in St. Boniface to a large French-Canadian family. He attended school in St. Vital. In his early adult life, along with his father Ernest, Alf operated a horse-pulled water wagon in St. Vital, beginning in the late 1920s until 1937. The service brought city water to families who had only hard-water pumps who lived outside of the carline, on the southern outskirts. In 1930 Alf met Marion Simpson who stole his heart. They married in 1931 and in 1932 they welcomed their son Neil. Eight years later, their family was completed with daughter Dayle. Alf joined the Air Force in 1940 as a general dutyman, and rose through the ranks to the position of Flight Engineer and Officer. He was first stationed with his family in Fingal, Ontario, at The Bombing and Gunnery School, and moved to several other posts in Canada while he served through the Second World War. After the war, Alf sought work as aircraft mechanic and was employed by then Trans Continental Airlines (TCA), which would become Air Canada. For the first and only time in his life, during his Air Canada years, Alf was known as Joe. In 1960, Air Canada transferred Marion and Alf to Montreal, where they lived for 14 years, and where they made many new friends who became life-long friends. During those years, Marion and Alf enjoyed travelling quite regularly and extensively, and together they saw much of the world. Then in 1974, after 28 years, Alf retired from Air Canada and he and Marion returned to Winnipeg. Back in Winnipeg, not content to be retired, Alf drove school buses, and worked as a handyman. He and Marion began what would become their annual winter getaway. They spent 17 winters as Snowbirds on the Gulf of Mexico in Florida, where they enjoyed the company of their many good friends, playing cards and spending hours walking on the beach. During the summertime Alf helped to build the family cottage at Malachi, Ontario, and later he would spend countless days there tending to all variety of tasks and activities, from wood splitting to water hauling to painting and repairing, berry picking, gardening, canoeing and swimming. Never idle, Alf did it all. In 1991 Marion and Alf moved to a new condo complex in St. Vital and quickly became friends with many of the people who live there. It wasn't too long before they became the oldest couple in their block, but that didn't stop them from enjoying the many ongoing activities in the complex, Poker and Bridge being two of their favourites, which they played several times each week. Alf liked to cook, and eventually he became the chief cook and bottle washer in the Michaud kitchen. His hallmark gleaming, polished kitchen sink was the envy of everybody who visited, and his creative, tasty meals complimented Marion's baking perfectly. In recent years they have been active members in the St. Vital Historical Society, and in that regard, a street in south St. Vital has been named in honour of the family - Michaud Crescent. It's difficult to sum up 96 years of an extraordinary life in a few short paragraphs. Perhaps what's most remarkable about Alf's life was his tremendous friendships. He was a generous, kind, strong and loving man who was always whistling a tune, and always there to offer a hand, his support, a thoughtful gesture and a ride. He will be greatly missed and so lovingly remembered. The family would like to thank the staff of 3E Palliative Care at Riverview Health Centre for their compassionate care in the last days of Alf's life. Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at Glen Lawn Funeral Chapel, 455 Lagimodiere Boulevard with the Rev. Preston Parsons officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Alf's memory to the charity of your choice. GLEN LAWN FUNERAL HOME 982 - 7550

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 20, 2008