AURELE DESAULNIERS

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AURELE DESAULNIERS Aurele Desaulniers, entourer de sa famille a sa residence, est decede paisiblement le 22 avril, 2002 a lage de 76. Aurele est survecu par son epouse Gabrielle Desaulniers (nee Chatelain) et ses cinq enfants, Jocelyne, Michel (Louise), Joel (Christine), Rene (Doreen) et Sylvain (Tonya Blood). Il laisse aussi de nombreux petits-enfants, Alain, Stephane, Daniel, Brigitte, Justin, Gilbert, Dominic, Colin, Jani, Danika, Melanie, Brianne, Milaine. Aurele laisse dans le deuil ses soeurs, Yvonne Jutras (Antonin), Leonne Landry (Louis) et ses freres Emile (Fabiola), Victor (Simone), Raoul (Marie), Claude (Jeannine). Il est precede par ses freres, Arthur, Leon, Georges, Achille, Jules, Raymond, et ses parents, Exaverie ("Casseux") et Sidonie (Laroche). Aurele nest plus ou plustot nest plus visible a nos yeux de chair, mais pourtant encore bien present en notre esprit et dans nos coeurs. Aurele avait une personnalite remarquable qui vous touchait au premier abord par son accueil chaleureux, sa sincerite de coeur, sa gaiete naturelle et son beau sens dhumour. Issu de parents chretiens a Ste. Elizabeth, dune famille de 21 enfants, cest vous dire quil na jamais ete gate. Homme de foi, il na jamais chancele depuis quil avait marche au catechisme (comme on disait) pour memoriser le petit catechisme du Quebec en vu de faire sa premiere communion et sa confirmation. Il ne la jamais oublie et se plaisait parfois a vous le reciter encore de memoire. Fils de cultivateur, robuste quil etait, il sest donne a tous les travaux de la ferme et meme les chantiers dhiver avec son pere et ses freres. Au niveau paroissial, il simplique des son jeune age comme enfant de choeur et plus tard comme chantre aux messes et aux vepres. Faute demploi a Ste. Elizabeth on le retrouve au moulin a papier a Pine Falls, a la cooperative de St. Leon. Il revient a son village natal acheter le commerce de son oncle Odilon. Il est a la fois proprietaire du magasin general, agent de machines aratoires Oliver ("the best" comme il le disait). Il fait aussi le transfert (expression du temps), transporte les animaux, les cochons des fermiers a labattoir en ville et rapporte en revenant a Ste. Elizabeth les marchandises pour son magasin. Arme de zele, de courage, dambition et plein de jeunesse et damour naturellement, Aurele unit sa destinee en 1953 a Gabrielle Chatelain de Saint-Boniface, qui quitte la ville pour accompagner son epoux dans ses commerces et faire son nid dans ce petit patelin de Ste. Elizabeth, qui comme bien dautre, etait voue a disparaitre. Il faut faire face a la realite. En 1961 il ny avait plus davenir a Ste. Elizabeth pour ce jeune couple et leurs cinq enfants. Confiant, Aurele se retrousse les manches et se lance en affaire. Ils fondent lAssurance Aurele Desaulniers. Il a tous les atouts. Prudent, honnete, responsable et determine, il a vite fait de se batir une clientele enviable. Commerce quil passera en 1987 a ses deux fils. Inlassable au travail, Aurele a sa retraite est toujours actif. Mordus du golf, lui-meme et Gabie, jouent six mois a Falcon lete et six mois a Mesa lhiver. Ils passent ainsi ensemble plusieurs belles annees de leur retraite en se faisant de nouveaux amis. La Providence aidant sans contredit, ils reussissent a vendre leur chalet a Falcon en lan 2000 et leur chalet de Mesa en 2001 et etablissent residence en ville a la fin de la meme annee. Aurele etait un homme dEglise. Doue dune belle voix, il la mise a profit dans les chorales de Ste. Elizabeth, de la Cathedrale, de Falcon, de Mesa, enfin partout ou il a passe. Il a chante a des milliers de messes dominicales, de mariages et de funerailles. Il sest aussi distingue dans la chorale des Intrepides pendant 23 ans. Dans les veillees il savait nous egayer par ses chansons et ses petites histoires commiques. Somme toute, la ou etait Aurele, il y avait de la joie, de lentrain et de lamour. Homme du monde, Aurele se donne volontiers a maintes organisations communautaires. Il se distingue comme Voyageur officiel du Festival, membre de la Brigade, membre des Chevaliers de Colomb, president de lorganisation Riel, membre des comites de la Caisse Populaire Saint-Boniface et quoi encore. Aurele laisse un vide dans la communaute et surtout dans sa famille, chez ses enfants et petits enfants quil aimait beaucoup. Comme il aimait lui-meme a plaisanter, en retour ses enfants se plaisaient a le taquiner. Ils gardent tous un precieux souvenir de leur papa et pepere. Il a touche dans sa vie bien des coeurs et a marque sa communaute par son devouement et sa generosite. Il jouit maintenant de sa recompense en compagnie de son Dieu quil a toujours aime en dans ses nombreux parents et amis. Les funerailles auront lieu a 14h00 le 25 avril 2002 en la Cathedrale de Saint-Boniface situer au 180 ave de la Cathedrale preside par le Rev. Pere Ronald Leger, c.s.v. Visionnement aura lieu des 13h30 jusquau service. Une ceremonie privee de linhumation des cendres aura lieu dans le cimetiere de Saint-Boniface a une date ulterieure. Au lieu de fleurs, vous pouvez faire un don en memoire dAurele a la Paroisse Sainte-Famille, 778, rue Archibald, Winnipeg, MB, R2J 0Y4 qui servira a aider au Centre Miriam et a Teen Stop Jeunesse. La direction des funerailles de Monsieur Aurele Desaulniers, a ete confiee au Salon mortuaire Desjardins, 233-4949 ou sans frais 1-888-233-4949. Aurele Desaulniers, surrounded by his family at his home, passed away peacefully on April 22, 2002, at the age of 76. Aurele is lovingly remembered by his wife Gabrielle Desaulniers (nee Chatelain) and his five children, Jocelyne, Michel (Louise), Joel (Christine), Rene (Doreen) and Sylvain (Tonya). Also mourning the loss of their grandfather are his 13 grandchildren, Alain, Stephane, Daniel, Brigitte, Justin, Gilbert, Dominic, Colin, Jani, Danika, Melanie, Brianne, Milaine. He leaves to mourn his sisters, Yvonne Jutras (Antonin), Leonne Landry (Louis) and his brothers, Emile (Fabiola), Victor (Simone), Raoul (Marie), Claude (Jeannine). He was predeceased by his brothers, Arthur, Leon, Georges, Achille, Jules, Raymond; and his parents, Exaverie ("Casseux") and Sidonie (Laroche). Aurele is no more, rather no longer among us but rather is very present in spirit and in our hearts. Aurele had a remarkable personality which touched us at first glance by his warmth and charisma, his heartful sincerity, natural "joie de vivre" and his unique sense of humour. Raised as a Christian in St. Elizabeth from a family of 21 children, he was never spoiled. A man of great faith, he followed the word of God as he memorized his "Le Petit Cathechisme de Quebec" in preparation for his childhood sacraments. He never forgot what he learned and found joy in reciting from memory to anyone who would listen. A robust man, son of a farmer, he worked the land both summer and winter with his father and brothers. From a very young age, Aurele sought comfort in coming to his parishs aid by getting involved as an altar boy and later during church celebrations and vespers. Due to a lack of work in St. Elizabeth, Aurele found his way to the paper mill in Pine Falls and at the Co-op store in St. Leon, later to return to his native village to purchase his Uncle Odilons General Store. He wore many hats as owner of the town store, sometimes being a reseller of Oliver farm implements ("the Best" as he referred to them). He handled the local moving and delivery services ("transfer" as referred to in those days). He also would transport the local farmers pigs to the Winnipeg abattoir and on his way back, would return with the stores restocking inventory. Naturally armed with zeal, courage, ambition, youth and love, Aurele and his soulmate, Gabrielle Desaulniers of Saint-Boniface, married in 1953 to later move to the small town of St. Elizabeth where they settled to new beginnings. Later in 1961, there left little hope in St. Elizabeth for him and his young family. Still confident, Aurele rolled up his sleeves and launched a new company, Aurele Desaulniers Insurance. A man of many attributes, he built his clientele in short order with honesty, determination and integrity. He later passed on the business to his sons, Joel and Rene, in 1987. Although now a retired man, Aurele always seemed to be busy. His passion for golf, along with his life partner Gabie, enjoyed six months of the year at Falcon Lake and the remainder in Mesa, Arizona. In the process, accumulating many new dear friends. With the help of higher power, Aurele managed to sell his cottage and winter retreat homes in the same year and find their way back to Winnipeg to be closer to their family and friends. Aurele was a devoted man of the church. Blessed with a beautiful voice, he put his talent to good use participating in the church choirs in St. Elizabeth, Saint Boniface Cathedral, Falcon Lake and Mesa. In fact, everywhere he went, he sang with all his heart. He sang in thousands of mass celebrations, weddings and funerals. He was also a distinguished member of "La Chorale des Intrepides" for 23 years. During family gatherings, he engaged us in many a "sing-song" and his comical stories. Aureles presence everywhere, always brought joy, love and "joie de vivre"! A man of the world, Aurele volunteered his time to numerous community organizations. He was honoured with the distinguished title of official Voyageur of Le Festival du Voyageur, was member of La Brigade de la Riviere Rouge, member of the Knights of Colombus, President of the 100 year anniversary of Louis Riels death helping to raise a new bronze monument in Riels honour, member of the Caisse Populaire Saint-Boniface and too many more to mention. Aurele leaves a void in our community and especially in his family, all of whom, including his children and grandchildren, loved him very much. As much as he enjoyed teasing and joking, he was often the center of such teasing and joking by his children. They all hold dear these precious memories of their beloved father and grandfather. During his lifetime, he has touched many hearts and has left an indelible mark on his community with his devotion and generosity. His time served on earth has earned him his right to be by the side of his Maker and rejoin his departed brothers and sisters, family and friends. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. today, April 25 at Saint Boniface Cathedral located at 180 ave de la Cathedrale with Father Ron Leger, C.S.V. presiding. Viewing will take place at 1:30 p.m. until the time of service. A private interment of the cremated remains will take place at a later date in the St. Boniface Cemeterys Columbarium. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Holy Family Parish, 778 Archibald St., Winnipeg, MB, R2J 0Y4 to help with Miriam Centre and Teen Stop Jeunesse. The Desjardins Funeral Chapel in care of arrangements, 233-4949 or toll free 1-888-233-4949.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 25, 2002