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George GAUTHIER

naissance 16 déc 1904 à Red Lake Falls MN USA,
décès 31 jan 1997 à 92 ans,
sépulture au Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Fisher Branch, MB,
cause du décès "of Alzeimer and strokes",
(voir la notule nécrologique à la fin).
 

Père :  Joseph I GAUTHIER
Mère : Mathilde MEILLEUR

Marié(e) 13 fév 1943 à Roman Catholic Immaculate Conception Church in Fisher Branch MB, Jane CANERS, naissance 6 fév 1906 à Zaltbommel, Holland, (fille de Aloysius CANERS et Johanna BORST) décès 10 avr 2004 à West Park Manor Nursing Home, 98 ans, funérailles 15 à Roman Catholic Immaculate Conception Church in Fisher Branch MB (voir la notule nécrologique à la fin).

4 enfants (2 fils, 2 filles) :

Eulogy for George Joseph GAUTHIER

(Born: December 16,1904.
Died: January 11,1997)
by his daughter, Mary Jane

What can one say about our Dad's life? At a time like this, thoughts and emotions are not so clear, but still there is a need to say something to bring to mind the character and person of our father, George Gauthier.

Someone had said that Dad was like an old oak tree; the tree becomes knarled; the bark falls away; the old oak, by its very nature, did not fit in well with this high tech world. He was his own person strong and adamant to the end. A man of simplicity. He knew what mattered and what did not. He knew right from wrong, what was false and what was genuine. He was loyal to his friends. He was a good father. He was a man who could be depended upon. As the late Jack Vandersteen once said, " George is a man of his word. . . "

Dad was not eloquent in speech; he did not have the benefit of an education, but he was intelligent. He had his own unique way of expression and the stories he recounted brought back many a memory of by gone days: colorful characters, horse and buggy misadventures and silly pranks. It was a joy to hear our father laugh and reminisce. His tools were the axe, the plough and the horseshoe - the axe because he knew how to wield the axe, chopping cords and cords of wood for the winter, the plough because he was a farmer who lived off the land, the horseshoe because he loved the game of "horseshoe" and spent many a summer practicing his throws.

Dad was good with horses, able to get the best out of them, not with force but with kindness and soft words.

A few other things that were always with our Dad: his pipe and tobacco or Copenhagen snuff. Some people think that Dad was hot tempered, not one to back down when provoked. But he minded his own business, did not look for trouble and would not be pushed around. Yet he was a peaceful man. Many an hour he spent relaxing in his chair beside the wood fire, enjoying Mom's piano playing. He was a contented then.

Dad took a keen interest in politics, listened to the news intently. It was that Tory prime minister, Mulroney, who really got his goat--.

When it came to playing chic-cock, his favorite card game our family has yet to see anyone wham a fist on the table like Dad did. We were amazed that neither table nor fist ever got damaged. Always close to nature, dad cut wood without clearing out the trees. He hunted with respect for wildlife. He had a soft spot for animals. Lost dogs or dogs needing a home ended up at our house. Best of all was our cat, Tuffy Jones, who had the special habit of waiting outside on the kitchen window sill. When Dad came home and walked past the window, Tuffy Jones would hop on to our Dad's shoulder and get a free ride to the house.

Perhaps most people would not think of our father as a religious person but he did have a deep faith. Each and every day would begin and end in prayer. Seeing him kneel to pray in front of his armchair, was a ritual we grew up with. We just took it for granted. When, as children we made too much noise, Dad would thump his foot on the floor. That meant-. "Be Quiet'".

We will miss Dad, but Mom will miss him the most. Since they were married in 1943, they were like two peas in a pod and they discussed everything together.

Dad died peacefully - his earthly trials are over -- his spirit, freed.

A strange reminder came to me the other day as I was getting my hair cut. A man walked in with a five year old boy. The boy was wearing a plaid shirt. While his proud father was having a haircut, the boy began a few tap steps on the floor. Our father loved tap dancing and for a brief moment, in that little boy, our Dad's spirit once again was revealed to me.

Eulogy for George Gauthier

by Clara
I am very pleased to have been asked to give the eulogy for Uncle George.

With Uncle George and Auntie Jane living so close to us, we grew up not only knowing, but loving them dearly and will have many fond memories to treasure.

Uncle George was born on December 16, 1904 in Terrebonne, Minnesota. In the fall of 1910 he, along with his parents Joseph and Mathilde Gauthier and 5 brothers came to Canada, first living in Arborg for a year and then to a homestead about 6 miles East of Fisher Branch - he had resided in Fisher Branch for 84 years. In October 1994, he and Auntie Jane moved to Vidir, where they have received not only dedicated care, but love and concern from Rose Lubinski. She has opened her home to them and even allowed them to take their pet dog Rickie.

Uncle George in particular found it very hard to be uprooted from his beloved home and surroundings.  Their children worried and knew something had to be done. So with Philips help, they managed to persuade him to move. The last couple of weeks were spent in the hospital and Central Park home in Winnipeg.

Even when confused, he was a pleasure to visit; always feisty. When we went to see him at Central Park a little more than a week ago, we noticed his padded table that fit over his hair wa badly tattered. We were told that when someone questioned him about it, he replied "Philip did it".

How well I remember the day Auntie Jane and Uncle George got married. Mom and Dad sent Florence and I to stay with grandpa. They got married on a very cold February 13th, 1943 in Winnipeg. In those days, it was quite a venture to go to the city. They got married in the morning so I don't know how they got there, but I'll never forget their return. Uncle George simply beamed. No happier a groom could there possibly be! He had such a broad smile and a twinkle in his eyes to match. How could anyone forget that expression of immense joy and complete happiness? A marriage that was to be loyal for almost 54 years.

Uncle George was not only a loyal and loving husband, but a very dedicated and proud father and grandfather as well.

It was a known fact that Uncle Georges was a man of his word. What he said or promised, you most certainly could depend on. Besides recognizing his honesty, we all know he was feisty, especially when it came to playnig to coque. His eyes sparkled and you had to know what you were doing, right to the point and doing it right. His knuckles were a definite expression when they repeatedly hit the table.He was a shrewed horseshoe player as well and many a good game was played with plenty of perfect ringers on a Sunday afternoon.

Uncle George was known to enjoy parties and good fast music would surely bring him on the floor doing a fast jig.

A lover of the outdoors and nature, he was noted to be a great cordwood cutter in his day. Firewood poked high around their house was a common sight. It's not that many years ago that we recall Uncle Georges cutting and splitting all their firewood.

Uncle George liked animals, especially horses. I remember that beautiful team he had when first married, how he cared for them and their well decked out harness. Later years, Rickie, their pet dog, is the recipient of praise and spoiling. I'm sure Rose would agree.

Uncle George had the gift of faith. Aunti Jane once told me he would never go to bed without kneeling to say his prayers. I found it inspiring to observe him in prayer when I would sleep over. Sister Agnes gave him great satisfaction by always making Holy Communion available to him. Many trips were made to Rose Lubinski's with the precious gift of the Eucharist. We know how grateful Auntie Jane and Uncle George were to her. Just a few weeks ago, Sister and Auntie Adrienne went to the Arborg Hospital to see him, and once again, even in his weakened state, he readily wanted to receive. Yes, his child-like trust and faith was to be admired!

May you rest in peace and enjoy eternal life is our fare well prayer for you, dear husband, father, grandfather, brother, Uncle and neighbor.

You were always there when we needed you

No task too great or small
With a loving heart and willing hand
For us you did them all
Thanks for the years you gave us
And for the times we shared
We only pray when you left us
You knew how much we cared
God say you getting tired
When a cure was not to be
He put his arms around you
And said "come to me"

Rubrique nécrologique