Gerald Guitard

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father, husband, grandfather, brother and friend Gerald Guitard, on Saturday, August 12th, 2006 at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre at the age of 68, after a courageous battle with cancer. Gerald was born on February 13th, 1938 in Belledune, New Brunswick. Moving to Ontario at the age of 18, he worked for Abitibi in the wood industry in both Auden and Thunder Bay until his retirement in 2003. Gerald moved to Beardmore in 1965 where he met and married Monique and raised his family until moving to Thunder Bay in 1983. In his younger years, Gerald was an avid hunter and fisherman, liking nothing better than getting together with a few of his buddies for a weekend of a little hunting or fishing, and a lot of tall tales. In later years, Gerald was quite content to putter around the yard and garden. He cherished any time spent with his two grandsons, whether it was playing board games, bowling, gardening or just doing yard work together. Gerald was a man of great strength and character, and no matter what he took on, he would see it to the end. His family came first and foremost Gerald will be sadly missed by his loving wife Monique, his son Gerry (Carrie), grandsons Blake and Adam, brothers Wally, Charlie (Linda), Clifford (Amanda), all of Thunder Bay, Clarence of Montreal, Roger (Corinne) of New Brunswick, sisters Priscilla Levesque, Bernadette Losier, Genevieve Degrechie, Bernice (Bernadin) Aube and Theresa McDonnell, all of New Brunswick, sister-in-law Frances Guitard of Thunder Bay, mother-in-law and father-in-law, Cecile and Ovila St. Onge, Thunder Bay, sister-in-law, Muriel Thetrault (Yves Marcoux) of Terrace Bay, Lucille (John) Lewandowski of Beardmore, numerous nieces and nephews, as well as his constant companion "Bambi". He was predeceased by his beloved daughter Laurie, brothers Ralph and Gordon, parents Alexander and Josephine, sister-in-law Noella Guitard, brothers-in-law Jules Levesque, Daniel Losier and Roy McDonnell. As per Gerald's wishes, cremation has taken place and a Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday August 16th, 2006 at 11:00 AM in the chapel of the HARBOURVIEW FUNERAL CENTRE, 499 North Cumberland Street. Visitation for family and friends will be held one hour prior to service time. Interment of the ashes to take place at a later date in St. Andrew's Cemetery. As expressions of sympathy, donations may be made in Gerald's memory to the Northern Cancer Research Foundation. The family wishes to thank the nurses from 1A; Big John, Mike and Brett, as well as Aleeshia and Margaret for their special care during Gerald's final hours. Thank you also to Dr. Dueck, Dr. Simpson and Dr. Sinha for their care and compassion throughout Gerald's illness and to all the nurses from Regioal Cancer Care (Chemo Unit). A special thanks to our homecare nurse, Joanna Knudsen-Bailey from Bayshore whose sense of humour saw us through some of the most difficult days."