LEON XAVIER FONTAINE

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LEON XAVIER FONTAINE Sagkeen First Nation Peacefully, after a courageous battle with cancer, Leon Xavier Fontaine, beloved husband of Irene and devoted father, passed from this life on Thursday, May 18 at Grace Hospital. Leons loving family are Irene and children, George Jeff, Joy (Ian), Glen, Barry (Georgina) father-in-law Noah Beaulieu; grandchildren, Nicole, Kristen, Brent, Kevin, Tamara, David, Manny and Alex; great-grandson George; daughter Joyce Bushie and grandchildren, Geoff, Alvin, Renee and Corey; daughter-in-law Marie (Bradley). His memory will also be cherished forever by his sisters, Marie, Marge (Terry), Shirley (Jon) brother Ted (Morgan), Uncle Albert, Aunt Ellen; cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and family in Sagkeeng and Sandy Bay First Nations. Leon was predeceased by his son Leon Bradley "Joey"; parents, George A. and Margaret; sister Georgina and brother Clifford; paternal grandparents, Charles "Schall" Fontaine and Therese Charbonneau, and maternal grandparents, Duncan Niizhotae (Twoheart) and Sarah Bird. Leon was born October 31, 1931 at Sagkeeng First Nation and attended the Fort Alexander residential school from 1939 to 1947. He worked on various construction sites for the Powerview hydro dam, Commonwealth Foundation and the Foundation of Canada Ltd., the Manitoba Paper company, the Lake Winnipeg freighter SS Kenora and Lake Superior shippers. Leon also excelled in hockey and played for various teams including the junior team in Geraldton while he was employed with Ontario Hydro. He enlisted in 1951 at age 19 with the Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry special services unit assigned to the war zone in Korea. After three months on the front lines, he was listed as missing in action on November 2, 1951. On November 6 he was listed as injured in action and admitted to the Norwegian M.A.S.H. unit in Seoul, Korea. He was transferred through six hospitals from Korea to Hawaii, to mainland USA and Canada, arriving at the Deer Lodge Hospital in the early summer of 1952. Upon his honourable release from the Canadian Armed Forces, and during a long rehabilitation at Deer Lodge, Leon further upgraded his education, going on to complete training and apprenticeships a plumber and pipe-fitter. Over the next years, Leon worked in Winnipeg and was regularly assigned to Churchill and the Arctic regions of Canada in the development of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) line. During these years, Leon met and married his lovely wife Irene and became the proud father of five wonderful children. Following completion of his work with the DEW line, the family travelled extensively throughout Canada as Leon pursued his career with vigour. While maintaining close ties to family members, Leon and his family experienced the fullness of opportunity in learning about many regions of Canada living in communities such as Marathon, Sarnia, Sault Ste. Marie, Calgary, Fort McMurray, Edmonton, Kamloops, Prince George and Winnipeg. Leon took a lead role and was instrumental in vocalizing, lobbying and negotiating for the rights of First Nation veterans who did not receive the same rights and benefits as other Canadian veterans. He served as Vice-President of the National Aboriginal Veterans Association and as the Manitoba First Nation representative for the past 12 years in the annual Remembrance Day services in Ottawa. He was proud to have marched with his comrades and to pay respect to all veterans who served Canada with honour and dignity. Leon also served with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and other First Nations organizations in representing First Nation veterans at conferences and workshops, and in serving as flag-bearer and honorary guard. Leon and Irene renewed their marriage vows on November 28, 1998 in a beautiful celebration of their life together and their family. Most recently, Leon and Irene have lived with Irenes father Noah Beaulieu at Sandy Bay First Nation. Leon travelled to Winnipeg for his medical care, and was helped through his last few days by staff at the Grace Hospital. The family would like to express their appreciation to Garnett Bond of the Sandy bay Health Centre, Dr. Paul Lu and staff of the Birchwood Clinic, Dr. Harris and nurses at Grace Hospital, and Dr. Veejay at the Health Sciences for their love and compassion expressed to Leon and his family. Prayers were held on Friday, May 19 in Winnipeg. Wake services will be held at St. Alexander Catholic Church hall at Sagkeeng First Nation beginning Saturday, May 20 at 3:00 p.m. The funeral service will be at St. Alexander Church on Monday, May 22 at 2:00 p.m. Pallbearers will be sons, George Jeff, Barry and Glen; son-in-law Ian; niece Cheryl and grandson Corey Bushie. Honorary pallbearers will be National Chief Phil Fontaine, Chief Murray Clearsky, Chief Margaret Swan, Assembly of First Nations Vice-Chief Dennis Whitebird, Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations Leader Perry Bellegarde, friend Melvin Swan and cousin Jim Fontaine. Russell Funeral Homes Ltd. in care of arrangements. 1-204-268-2263. Leons life was full and rich, and he was loved dearly. During his battle with cancer, his strength and determination shone through as he strived to lessen the burdens on loved ones and to help everyone keep laughing. Leon understood and accepted his impending death. He dedicated himself to help each of his family to accept that he was ready and to become ready for him to leave. He waited until this work was done. He made us realize that our perceptions of heroic characteristics change when we watch an ordinary man go through the ordeals and battles of cancer, facing its personal as well as its medical challenges bravely and with the power of love.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on May 20, 2000