John Charles "Charlie" LAJEUNESSE

Charlie died peacefully at Garden Terrace in Kanata, Saturday, January 29, 2022, at the age of 91 years, with family at his side. Beloved husband of the late Marie Angela Boudreau for 62 years, and loving father of John (Linda), Margot (late Reinhold), David, Kathy (Greg), and Lisa (Margaret). Loving Grandpa of Ryan (Leah), Nash and Spencer Lajeunesse; Andrew, Maria (Eric) and George Pranschke; and Brian and Charlie Brockmann. Loving great grandpa of Eleanor and Sylvie Lajeunesse. Predeceased by his mother, Ella Jane (née Robertson) and his father, Arthur Lajeunesse, his sisters, Noella Ceappy, Anita Brisebois, and brothers, Gerald (Jackie), Roland, Raymond, and Eugene Lajeunesse. He is survived by his brother-in-law, Gilles Brisebois, and many loving neices and nephews. Charlie will also be dearly missed by many friends he made over the years, in Carleton Place and Ottawa. We would like to express our deep gratitude to all staff and residents at the Waterside Seniors Community in Carleton Place, the Orchard View Seniors Community in Almonte, and especially his kind and loving caregivers at Garden Terrace in Kanata, who so lovingly cared for Dad in the last two years of his life. Dad was an active member of Saint John the Apostle Parish in Ottawa, and later, Saint Mary's Parish in Carleton Place. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and friend. He was full of love, kindness, creativity, music, intelligence, and humour. Although we will miss his endearing spirit, we will carry the part of him that is within each of us every day. Dad's enduring comical expressions and musical phrases were so much a part of him, that friends and family can recognize 'Dad' through us, when we, his children, repeat and sing them! He had a way of playing with words and music lyrics that entertained all of us, no matter how many times we heard them. Dad's kindness touched each member of our family and each person he met, and his skills as a craftsman, creative renovation expert, and gardener, especially of tomatoes and strawberries, were renowned. He was affectionately known to family members as the 'Strawberry King of Carleton Place', after starting a 'pick your own' berry business with Mom, while still working full-time, and he continued to grow berries into his retirement. Dad LOVED strawberries! Both Dad and Mom were excellent bridge players, often winning tournaments together as a team, and later, initiating members of our family into the bridge fold. A funeral will be held on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Mary's Church, 28 Hawthorne Avenue in Carleton Place, with a visitation on February 22, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., at the Alan R. Barker Funeral Home, 19 MacArthur Avenue in Carleton Place. To attend either the funeral or visitation, you must be double-vaccinated and wear an appropriate mask, covering your mouth and nose. If you are unable to attend for any reason, please feel free to post a message online with the funeral home or send a message to any family member that you know. Memorial donations may be made to Garden Terrace Residents' Council, to support the community that so lovingly cared for Dad in the last two years, and online to the Canadian Cancer Society, the Alzheimer Society of Canada, or to a charity that is meaningful to you.
www.barkerfh.com