Roger Eugene Briand, 1944-2008

Roger Eugène Briand, resident of Edmonton, AB, passed away on September 26, 2008 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital at the age of 63 after battling for some years with COPD. Roger was born on October 14, 1944 at the hospital in McLennan, AB. He grew up on a farm six miles south and a half mile west of Falher, AB. Roger was the son of Charles-Eugène Briand formerly of St-Fabien, Rimouski, Quebec and Florida Trudeau of Falher, AB. Roger attended school in Falher for four years then Langlois School in Guy, AB until the fall of 1961. From 1962 to 1966, Roger worked for different farmers and during the winter, he worked for several sawmills in Alberta and B.C. In 1965 and 1966, he was employed by McGregors Telephone and Power in BC as a head lineman supervising four men. In 1966 and 1967, he worked as a truck driver and deliveryman for Royal Mail (Alphonse Garand). He then started facing serious health problems and because of his health and the medication he had to take he was unable to work. His life has been a roller-coaster ride with many hospital stays and failed remedies. It was tough. However, he always had a beautiful smile for family and friends. Roger was a polite, kind and considerate man. He loved tranquility and peace. Roger lived in a group home in Edmonton from 1996 to spring of 2007 or until the home closed. This past year, he was living at Grand Manor in Edmonton, a 56 unit apartment hotel with 24/7 support services for individuals with various disabilities including mental illness. He leaves his surviving brothers and sisters: Louis (Joyce) Briand of Whitecourt, AB, Raymond (Henriette) Briand of Falher, AB, Thérèse (Albert) Turcotte of St. Albert, AB, Angèle (Jean-Claude) Turcotte of Kaleden, BC, Alphonse (Paulette) Briand of Lavoy, AB and Yvette (Gordon) Fleming of Sechelt, B.C. He was also uncle to many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Charles-Eugène Briand and Florida Trudeau. Funeral services for the late Roger Briand were held in the Chapel of the Connelly-McKinley Funeral Home in St. Albert on Oct. 15, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend René Bélanger o.m.i. Officiating. The Cross Bearer was Charles Turcotte. The urn bearer was Raymond Briand. The soloist was Jean-Claude Lajoie. The readers were Michelle Turcotte and Richard Briand. Altar Servers were Henri Labbé and Germain Lafleur. The presentations of the offerings were made by Allan Briand and Monique Briand Mamchur. His ashes were buried in the Ste-Anne Cemetery Falher on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008, at 2 p.m. with Deacon Reginald Bouchard officiating. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Connelly-McKinley Funeral Home, 9 Muir Drive, St. Albert, AB.