Emery J. Alphonse Brouillette, 93

july 1, 1912 - January 21, 2006
Alphonse passed away peacefully on Saturday January 21, 2006 at the Rainy River Health Center with close friends by his side.
Alphonse is survived by his close friend Evelyn Nelson, son Henry (Oreen), sister Jane Burnell, brother Adrien (Nina), granddaughter DeNyse Turpin (Bryan), great grandchildren Todd, Tristen, Jeunesse & Kyle Lupien, Bryanne & Renee Turpin, Bailey Brouillette-Teclom-Passmore, great great granddaughter Aysha Mai Turpin, sister-in-law Betty (Arthur) Brouillette, Patricia (Alex) Brouillette, sisters-in-law & husbands Leah & Allen Quibell, Aimee & Vic Morawski, sister-in-law Aurore (Pete) Levesque, brother-in-law & wife Romeo & Thelma Levesque & numerous nieces & nephews.
Alphonse was predeceased by his wife Mathilda, infant son Edgar, father & mother Emery & Ida, grandchildren Michele & Guy Brouillette, brothers Arthur, Alex & Henry, Armand & wife Margaret, Paul & wife Senja, sisters-in-law & husbands Bertha & Edward Loiselle, Toni & Bill Wolff, brother-in-law & wife Leo & Georgina Levesque, brothers-in-law Albany, Norman & Peter Levesque & ‘Bud’ Burnell, nephews Buster Burnell (Jane), Robert Brouillette (Armand), & niece Theresa Brouillette-Meilleur (Armand).
Alphonse’s birthplace was S.W.24-2-12 E. Sprague, Manitoba.
He hired on with the Canadian National Railway in 1928 at age 16 years, working as a ‘Trackman’ until he retired in 1970.
He married Mathilda Levesque on June 6, 1934 at Vassar, Manitoba. They lived in various places along the CNR northern line, Griff, Robinson, Ghost River, buying a house there for $60.00 & living there until he joined the army in Winnipeg, Manitoba. At that time he moved his wife & son to live in Winnipeg while he was overseas. They also lived in Nanaimo & Vancouver, BC for a time, but returned to Winnipeg until he was discharged from the army.
Alphonse joined the Royal Canadian Engineers Regiment #93505 in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Dec. 1, 1941, serving overseas in France, Germany & England with the RCE 20th Field Co. along with brothers Arthur, Paul & Alex. He was discharged from the army on Dec. 20th, 1945.
Alphonse was a Lifetime member of the Rainy River Legion Branch #54. He was awarded his ‘50 Year’ Legion pin in April 23, 2004 & was present to receive the ‘Year of the Veteran pin in 2005, which he was very pleased to get.
After his discharge, he moved his family to Savant Lake, ON to resume his employment with the CNR Section Crew. They moved to Rainy River, ON in September 1950 where he has resided ever since.
In his younger years, Alphonse loved to grow a vegetable garden & flowers, pick wild berries in season which were preserved to enjoy in the winter months, picnic & fish at the lake & do some woodworking projects.
‘Matt’ & Alph loved to play cards also, taking great pleasure in trying to beat their neighbours Ulysse & Lucy Nault, laughing many a night away. They enjoyed visiting with their brothers & sisters & Henry & Oreen & family.
In 1986, a while after ‘Matt’ had passed away, he moved from their home on First Ave. to an apartment in the Heritage House on First St.
Once living at the Heritage House, he kept himself busy with small projects, whittling, still picking wild berries in season & preserving them himself, spending time with close friend Evelyn Nelson, playing cards, going to bingo & some activities in the ‘common’ room. He loved to go ‘casinoing’ with Henry, Oreen & Evie occasionally, taking long drives in the country side to hopefully see some herds of deer grazing in the fields, visiting with Evie’s family, & driving to Dryden to be with son Henry & family for special occasions.
Once he wasn’t able to drive his car anymore, he enjoyed getting around town on his scooter, going for the mail, meeting friends at the Bakery for coffee & a cookie or having a sandwich at one of the local restaurants.
Alphonse moved to the Rainy River Health Center Long Term Care Unit on June 24, 2005 due to his worsening health condition. He liked the care he received from the staff there very much, the ‘good’ meals & friends & family dropping in to visit him often. He also enjoyed the entertainment & evening tea they provided for the patients there.
Honorary pallbearers for Alphonse were his great grandchildren Todd, Tristen, Jeunesse & Kyle Lupien, Bryanne & Renee Turpin, Bailey Brouillette-Teclom-Passmore, & great great granddaughter Aysha Mai Turpin.
A vigil prayer service for Alphonse with family & friends was held at the Roman Catholic Church in Rainy River on Friday June 2, 2006 from 7 pm to 8 pm. led by Father Dan Debano.
A memorial mass was celebrated for Alphonse by Father Dan Debano at Our Lady of Good Counsel Roman Catholic Church in Rainy River on Saturday June 3, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. with a beautiful inspirational hymns played before & during mass by organist Jacquie Dufresne & sang by Alphonse’s niece Dorothy Quibell & her daughter Kelsey.
Tending the guest book & distributing memorial & prayer cards was his niece, Carol Pratt.
A private family internment of his ashes took place the day of the service at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Rainy River, with an Honor Guard provided by the Major Hughes Branch #54 and a toast was raised for their fallen comrade once back at the Legion.
A luncheon for family & friends was held at the Rainy Canadian Legion Hall, catered to by the Royal Canadian Legion Ladies Auxiliary following the service & internment.
Should family or friends so desire donations may be made to the Rainy River Health Center in his memory.