Rainville, Eudger “Gerry”

I’m thinking the sun shone brighter on October 28, 1936. That’s the day Eudger (aka “Gerry”) was born in Lavigne to Cécile and Alfred Rainville (now predeceased). He was born during the great depression. Due to the untimely death of his mother Cécile, Dad and his siblings relied on extended family members for support and care. These were challenging times, everyone worked in one form or another to support each other. That’s probably where dad’s work ethics came from. Always hard at work, with a huge smile and a heart of gold.

At the age of 19, in 1955, he met the love of his life Simone Gaudet. Both worked at the St. Joseph Hospital, mom in the cafeteria and dad in the laundry room. I’m told dad was too shy to ask mom out on a date but had his cousin André ask her in his place. Dad was always the shy, quiet type. That must be were his kids got it from… lol. It must have worked however, because through their faith and love for each other they would marry on September 7, 1957, and soon start a family of their own: Richard (Robert Leblanc), Bernard (predeceased), Carole (Gilles Pilon), Donald (predeceased) and Michel (Toby-Ann Desmarais). By 1967, mom’s mother Ida (predeceased), and sister Sharon (Nelson Hnatiuk, predeceased), whom dad loved as his own daughter, moved into the household. These additional supports allowed mom and dad to work while mémère watched over us as kids.

While dad had a few different jobs earlier in his life, he worked for 37 years at North West Lumber in Chelmsford where mom and dad had created a comfortable home for their family. Dad was one of the first employees at North West, helping them establish the business in the community. There he provided customer service and delivered goods to the various customers. That’s how he became so well known. You couldn’t go anywhere without dad meeting someone he knew, and having a chat. His sense of community was always important. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and the Club 50 in Chelmsford, and the Club d’Àge d’Or in Azilda where mom and dad later moved to after selling the family home. He is remembered fondly by many very dear, and close friends.

His love of family is continued in the lives of his grandchildren: Anyse (Ian Leclair), Nicolas, Alexandre, Mathieu and his great-grandchildren: Caleb and Marquise.

He is also remembered by his siblings: Camille, predeceased (Viviane), Renald (Thérèse), Jeannine (Norbert Kinglsey, predeceased), Fernande (Claude Tremblay) and Roger (predeceased). As well as Normand (Nicole), Michel (Denise), Vital (Lucie) and Fernand (Eve-Marie).

A Church Service and Celebration of Life will take place at the St. Joseph Church, 3594 Errington Ave N. in Chelmsford on Saturday, July 2, 2022, at 11:30 am. Family and Friends are invited to attend.