BENOIT JOSEPH GUYOT

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BENOIT JOSEPH GUYOT May 6, 1915 August 4, 2009 A kind, brave and wonderful man, Benôit (Ben) Guyot, passed away on August 4, 2009 at Riverview Health Centre at the age of 94, with his loving family by his side. Ben was born in Fannystelle, Manitoba on May 6, 1915. His family moved to Ste. Rose du Lac and then settled in St. Boniface when he was a very young child. Car rides back to his childhood home where he would admire the trees his mother planted was one of his greatest pleasures. Ben was one of a kind. A gentleman with a heart of gold. It was no secret how much he loved children, evident by the delight in his eyes whenever a new grandchild or great-grandchild was placed in his arms for the first time. Ben served in the Canadian Air Force during the Second World War from 1941 to 1946. In the spring of 1941, he first saw his future bride, Jeanne Bedard, from a distance in a bowling alley. He asked the friend he was with, Who is that? She is going to be my wife someday. In June 1941, he was transferred to Montreal. He asked Jeanne's parents if she could visit him there, and on a second visit on May 9, 1942, they were married. Only one week after that, he was transferred to Bermuda and she went home to St. Boniface. The air crew switched to Air Traffic Control in 1944 and that year they had their first child. In 1946 Ben left the Air Force, worked for the Department of Transport for ten years, then he and his family relocated to Graham, Ontario for three years. Ben and Jeanne moved back to St. Boniface in 1951 with three small children in tow, to the house in which he lived for 58 years. By 1954, with the arrival of two more children, their family was complete. Ben understood what commitment meant and lived it every day. Through good times and challenges, he was the anchor for his beloved wife, Jeanne, for 56 years until her death in 1998. He was devoted to his family; with energy and patience he raised five children along with Jeanne and was committed to family life. Ben demonstrated his love and affection and sense of fair play in deeds throughout his lifetime. Ben liked to help build things. If you gave him a hammer and some nails, he would build you a rec room or a fence. Give him a paint brush and he'd stain your fence. He loved gardening and if you happened to pass by his house any given day in summer, you would undoubtedly see him in his yard on his knees, digging in the earth and tending to his flowers. Ben liked to be informed of current affairs and was a voracious consumer of information about his world. He had an abhorrence of child abuse, injustice, prejudice and of course, rising taxes. He had a keen interest in the science of astronomy, read many books on the topic, and liked to share his knowledge about constellations, far-away galaxies and lunar eclipses. In earlier years, Ben spent many weekends at his favourite golf courses with his brother Gilles and sons Marc and Dennis. He was a member of the French acting troupe, the Cercle Molière, was employed at the Winnipeg Press Club for years, and then became a self-employed groundskeeper/landscaper until his retirement in 1988. He loved watching team sports and was a devoted fan of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Montreal Canadiens. In 1999 at the urging of a friend, Ben went to a dance and was introduced to a beautiful lady by the name of Bernice Zoppa. What followed was an unexpected close friendship that remained until his death. Ben and Bernice never missed their annual Rainbow Stage concert. They spoke to each other almost daily and shared a genuine love of gardening, and watching curling and football together. He attended and served in his church, Holy Family in St. Boniface, for almost 60 years. His was a familiar face among the parishioners and he often spoke fondly of them. When he became unable to attend mass any further, Father Ron Léger would visit him at home. He was deeply touched when Father Ron brought him a statue of the Virgin Mary to watch over him. He looked forward to visits from Gabrielle Desaulniers, a fellow parishioner who brought him Communion, and who became a comforting presence during his confinement at home. To know Ben was to appreciate his wisdom, patience, creativity and playful side. He was a man of few words, but could disarm any tenuous situation and have people laughing with his one-liners. To his children, it was all this plus the unwavering love and emotional support he had for his family. In addition to his loving children Marc, Dennis (Charlene), Elyse, Gilles, and Danielle (Henry), the memory of Ben's indomitable spirit will comfort his grandchildren Jeremy, Christian, Matthew (Terri-Lynn), Selena (Jason), Rebecca, Joshua, Reald (Tanis), Evan, Brendan (Meghan), Jordan, Elliot (Michelle) and Jared (Trisha); great-grandchildren Savannah, Braeden, Benjamin, Allison, Caelan, Avery, Justin and Aidan; and numerous nieces and nephews. Ben will be especially missed by his very special friend, Bernice, her daughter Donna and son-in-law Gary. Ben leaves to cherish his memory his sisters-in-law Jan Bedard, Liz Bedard, Odette Guyot; brother-in-law Bernard Riendeau. Ben was predeceased by his father Adolphe Guyot (1966); his mother Olympe Gauthier (1937); his two brothers Gilles (1980) and Paul (1988); his sisters Denise Morrish (1994), Monique Guyot (2003), Léonie Guyot (2005), Simone Goyette (2006); and his beloved wife of 56 years, Jeanne (1998). The family expresses sincere appreciation and gratitude to the doctors and staff of 8th Floor Palliative Care, St. Boniface Hospital; to public health nurses Germaine, Trish, and Corinne; and to the lovely and caring Health Care Aides who entered Ben's home daily to tirelessly provide him care and comfort during his last days, especially Felma, Sitel, Susan and Eliza. To the doctors and staff of 3E, Riverview Health Centre, we thank you. Acknowledgement of and appreciation for thoughtful care at Ben's home is extended to Dr. Jocelyn Danais-Brown and Dr. Eric Sigurdson. At his request, Ben has been cremated. A memorial service celebrating his life, with Father Ron Léger officiating, will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 28, 2009 at Holy Family Parish, 778 Archibald Street, Winnipeg. A gathering for fellowship will follow in the church hall, lower level. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of one's choice. Our death is not an end if we can live on in our children and the younger generation. For they are us; our bodies are only wilted leaves on the tree of life. Albert Einstein DESJARDINS 233-4949 1-888-233-4949

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 22, 2009