LEO ANDREW NOONAN -

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LEO ANDREW NOONAN 1921 - 2004 Fort Frances, ON and Winnipeg, MB Peacefully, in faith, and surrounded by his loving family, Leo Andrew Noonan, beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend, passed away on Tuesday, August 10, 2004. He will be dearly missed by wife Marie-Therese (Blanc) his son Gerard (Shelly) and their children, Chelsey (Russell), Christopher (Karina), Kathleen (Kevin), Jenny, Colleen; his son Paul (Diane) and their children, Michael (Kelly), Christine, Sarah; his daughter Bernadette (Brian) and their children, Robert (Jessica), Peter, David and Matthew; six great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters-in-law, numerous nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. Leo was predeceased by five children, Lorraine-Adele, Michael, Robert, Joseph and Christine Marie. Leo was born in Perth, ON in 1921 to his parents, George and Lorraine into a family of seven brothers and four sisters who all predeceased him. He served in the R.C.A.F. 1942 to 1945 along with five of his brothers. He married in 1947, operated his own grocery business in Perth 1945 to 1951, joined Canada Safeway in 1952 and operated stores in Winnipeg, Fort Frances and Brampton, ON. In 1971 he purchased a dining lounge in Fort Frances which has developed into La Place Rendez-Vous a 75-room resort facility on Rainy Lake. Upon retirement, one of Leos greatest joys and accomplishments was his involvement in CESO projects with First Nations groups in Ontario in the 1970s and overseas hotel projects in Jamaica, St. Kitts, Dominica, Peru, Indonesia, Chile, Guyana and Guatemala. Leo loved people and was happiest when helping someone, a friend or a stranger. He served as president of the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce and president of the St. Boniface Kiwanis Club. He was a Fourth-Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. His dedicated service spanned many years and included various offices within the Knights: Grand Knight (1962-1963), charter member of the K of C council 3531 in Perth, ON. He was a founding member of The Sunset Country Tourist Board until his retirement in 1985. Thank you to Donna Main and the staff at the Community Care Access Centre for helping to make Dads final days as peaceful and comfortable as possible. Also special friends Ron Bernardi, Lillian Newman and cousin Jack Watters. Prayers and viewing will be held on Monday, August 16 from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. at St. Marys RC Church in Fort Frances. At 4:30 p.m. there will be prayers and presentation by the Knights of Columbus and the Royal Canadian Legion Colour Party. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated by Fr. Francis Pudicherry at 5:00 p.m. Cremation to follow. His ashes will be interred at the foot of his daughter Christine Maries grave in Holy Cross Cemetery in Fort Frances. Pallbearers will be his five grandchildren, Christopher Noonan, Michael Noonan, Robert, Peter and David Moen and brother-in-law Ian Adams. In addition, participating in the service are grandchildren, Christine, Sarah and Colleen Noonan and Matthew Moen. Honorary Pallbearers will be his brother Knights from Council #2766. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Fort Frances Community Chest at 1201 Idylwild Dr., B-2, RR 2, Fort Frances, ON P9A 3M3 "To know the Rose Is to know God To know the faded rose will bud again Is to know eternity."

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 13, 2004