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OBIT ~ Pierre Despins, 1934-2010
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Pierre Marcel Despins, resident of Falher, passed away on Feb. 25 in McLennan at the age of 75.
Pierre was born on Sept. 1, 1934 at home near Falher.
He is the seventh child of a family of nine children of Ernest Despins and Françoise Lapalme. Pierre went to school at first at Pelletier School, then when the family moved to Falher in 1942, he attended the Falher School.
As a boy in Falher, Pierre was always seen with his loyal dog, “Buster”. This faithful dog would transport him to school with a wagon or sled and patiently waited for him all day and then would bring him home after classes. With the help of Buster, Pierre would bring home bags of flour, firewood, blocks of ice, and even loads of coal.
At 17 years of age, he went to work at a Clairmont sawmill with his friend, Aurèle Doran. Then he took a job in Prince George for a while. In 1953, his brother Jacques, who was working in Detroit, Michigan, invited him to join him there to work at Chevrolet Gear & Axle. Pierre hitchhiked to Detroit. Upon arrival he obtained employment with the company.
In 1960, Pierre often went to Montréal, which was 600 miles away, to visit his relatives. There he met his wife Madeleine in May 1960. One year later, the two were married.
They made their home in Michigan. In 1983, after 30 years of service for Chevrolet Gears & Axles, Pierre retired. They sold their house and moved back to Alberta in 1984.
They owned some land in Guy that Pierre cultivated with Robert. After six years in Guy, Pierre and Madeleine moved their house and garage to Falher. Pierre and Madeleine enjoyed doing volunteer work. They made sure the church grounds were well-kept summer and winter. Pierre also like to maintain the walking trail south of town in good condition for hikers and cross-country skiers.
In winter, Pierre loved to go ice fishing. He enjoyed the company of friends to catch and eat the fish.
Maintaining a well-stacked pile of wood to keep his house warm was another winter activity.
He loved to visit with his friends. If a party or camp fire was organized, he was always ready to enjoy an evening of good friendship. But he was not only there for the good times.
He enjoyed surprising his friends and neighbours by maintaining their lawns or driveways while they were gone.
Eventually, Pierre started to be sick and his good deeds were cut short.
He was relegated to his lazy boy chair and then to his bed.
When he could not care for himself at all, he had to move to the Manoir du lac in McLennan.
He was there for about six months before the final stage of his disease took over and Pierre passed away.
Pierre was predeceased by his father Ernest and his mother Françoise, also by his brothers Georges and Jean.
He is survived by his wife Madeleine, his brothers Robert and Réne of High Prairie, Laurent of Los Angeles, Jacques of New Brunswick, and his sisters Madeleine of St. Albert and Paulette of Moncton.
Funeral services for the late Pierre Despins were held on March 6 at 2 p.m. from the Ste. Anne Parish in Falher with Reverend Msgr. Charles Lavoie officiating.
Honorary pallbearers were Robert Despins, Laurent Despins, René Despins, Edmond Despins, Aurèle Doran, and Pierre Piché.
Interment followed at the Falher Cemetery.
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