HUBERT CLEMENT

In his 103rd year, the patriarch of our family has gone on to his Eternal life. Our dear Pop passed away on January 23, 2025. We were all together, holding him, while Father Mike from his parish performed Last Rites. As the priest ended the final prayer and "Amen" was said in unison, Pop, with abiding faith, breathed his last breath. It was remarkable, peaceful and beautiful, as was his life. Our Pop was blessed with longevity. And he made that longevity an opportunity for wisdom, dignity and peace. With his engaging charm, he made his life one of outflowing ripples of kindness. Although his life was not free from challenges, neither was it corroded with bitterness. His focus was always a positive one, dwelling on his blessings and on the help of friends and allies over the years. His greatest legacy will perhaps have been to instill in his family a loving heart of peace. His lessons of kindness, generosity and serenity have helped to guide our way through life and will continue to do so. Hubert Clement was born in 1922 in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. When he celebrated his 100th birthday he gratefully looked back on a century of Black History lived as a very interesting life. His parents, of modest means, had encouraged Hubert and his younger brother Errol to pursue their education, wishing for them a future filled with possibilities. He wanted to attend University and he appreciated the welcome that he received from Sir George Williams (Concordia) and became a successful student. Once Hubert earned his B. Comm, followed by an MBA from McGill, he proudly became a Canadian citizen. He had had to work to pay for his studies and one of the available jobs for Black men in Canada in the fifties, was as a Porter on the trains. It was not easy work and he worried about becoming limited by what Canadian society thought he should be in the workplace. That job did allow him to visit throughout his new country that he would come to love very deeply. When he began his career with the Montreal Catholic School Board, he would soon meet his beloved wife, Euphrasie Le Sann, a Franco-Manitoban who had recently moved to Montreal and was teaching at the same school. She became the love of his life for nearly 57 years. They shared a devotion to teaching as they served their community side-by-side. As a wonderful teacher, Pop guided and inspired generations towards the doing of good. While their brave bi-racial love story was not accepted by all in the 1960s, Euphrasie and Hubert were blessed with three children, daughters Bernadette and Catherine and son Joseph (Lisa Elkin) whom they raised with serenity and respect for the diversity of Creation. Pop made sure that unlike him, they were all steeped in the French language and culture which he loved. Joe and Lisa's five children, Mathieu, Emily, Jacob, Julia, and Alice continue in this tradition as outstanding Canadians. His family was a source of immense joy and great pride, and he proclaimed that they replenished his enthusiasm and enjoyment of life. "They need me" he said, as he willed himself to go on after a remarkable story of love drew to its earthly close on March 17, 2021, with the passing of his beloved "Phrasie". This ever-gracious lady inspired friends, family and her many communities with a formidable strength and ever-present kindness. In his final hours, Hubert kept a picture of her lovely face close by, as she still continued to be a source of encouragement to him. Such was their love story. He also leaves in mourning his eldest son, Leo Christopher Clement (Nancy), brother Errol Clement (Enid), his nephews Michael (Linda) and Andrew among other family members, and many friends. Hubert kept his mind sharp by following all of his children's activities, from Leo's years of service in the US Military and Postal System, to Joe's skill and success in the world of finance and to Catherine's dedication to equity and inclusion work for CBC/Radio-Canada. He loved hearing Bernadette's latest news from Cornwall and when he attended her Swearing-In Ceremony at the Senate, he marvelled at the peace and respect that he could feel in this historic institution of Canada. In 1962, Pop went to hear Martin Luther King deliver a speech in Montreal. In the last few days before his death, Pop, a Black Canadian, still remembered that historic moment as a deeply inspiring experience connected to the civil rights movement. In these perilous and troubled times, we draw a similar inspiration from our Pop. He confided that his personal secret to long living was prayer, love and a drop of fine cognac. With a sense of pride in our special heritage, we are filled with gratitude for his presence of greatness in our lives, and encouraged to continue to contribute, each in our own way. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Ignatius of Loyola Church, 4455 rue West Broadway in Montreal on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at 11a.m. Eastern Standard Time, with family welcoming expressions of sympathy as of 10a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to "The Hubert Clement and Euphrasie Le Sann Memorial Scholarship established by Senator Bernadette Clement for black women law students." https://www.uottawa.ca/giving/donation-form to honour Hubert and Euphrasie's memory. In the space « Designate my gift to:», please select "Other designation" and insert this Scholarship.