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BORN
1925
DIED
2022
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Arthias Tessier Obituary
TESSIER, Arthias "Art"
Surrounded by the love of his family, Art passed away peacefully at McNally House in Grimsby on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at the age of 96. Beloved husband of Therese Tessier (née Dunn), (deceased May 2019) for over 69 years.
Arthias (Art) was born in November of 1925 in the village of Saint-Chrysostome, Québec. After his graduation from university HEC (École des Hautes Études Commerciales de Montréal) he bravely moved to Hamilton, where he met Mom (Therese Dunn) at a local CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) dance. He once shared that when he first saw her, he thought she was rich because she was wearing a fur shawl. They fell in love and were married in April of 1950 at the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King in Hamilton. They celebrated the birth of their first child in January of the following year.
The two newlyweds moved back to Montréal and after a brief time with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Art with his young family, returned to Hamilton in 1955 and opened his insurance agency with the State Farm Insurance Company. Imagine the courage it took to go from the French culture and language to Ontario to create a new insurance agency from scratch all while having to learn the english language. Art's career flourished for over thirty-five years as the local "Good Neighbour" State Farm Agent, first in Hamilton and then finishing out his career in 1990 in Burlington. Next to his family and his faith his business was his life. Art once said next to being a priest, being an agent and being able to genuinely help support people in his agency during some of the toughest times in their lives was the best job a person could ever have.
Art with his beautiful wife, Therese, raised four children Michael (Maria), Stephen (predeceased 1962), Gordon (Joanne) and Mary (Glen). He was known to all his relatives simply as "Uncle Art", Art was a gentle man of faith, aspiring to the beliefs of kindness and loyalty whether it be for his friends, family or his valued policyholders. He had a love of travel and tennis and was very active in his church as an usher, reader, member of the funeral choir (AKA "The Deadbeats") and a Eucharistic Minister.
Art is survived by his grandchildren David (Ashley) and Jennifer (Charles).
Special thanks to his daughter Mary for all her love and care for Dad during his final years. Our deepest appreciation to Dr. Priestner of Burlington and the wonderful staff at McNally Hospice in Grimsby for their compassion and care.
Visitation will be at the Smith's Funeral Home, 485 Brant Street, Burlington on Sunday from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. The Funeral Mass will take place at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, 2016 Blairholm Ave. Burlington on Monday March 21 at 10:30 a.m. This will be followed by a modest celebration onsite and interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 600 Spring Gardens Rd, Burlington beginning at 2 p.m.
Surrounded by the love of his family, Art passed away peacefully at McNally House in Grimsby on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at the age of 96. Beloved husband of Therese Tessier (née Dunn), (deceased May 2019) for over 69 years.
Arthias (Art) was born in November of 1925 in the village of Saint-Chrysostome, Québec. After his graduation from university HEC (École des Hautes Études Commerciales de Montréal) he bravely moved to Hamilton, where he met Mom (Therese Dunn) at a local CYO (Catholic Youth Organization) dance. He once shared that when he first saw her, he thought she was rich because she was wearing a fur shawl. They fell in love and were married in April of 1950 at the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King in Hamilton. They celebrated the birth of their first child in January of the following year.
The two newlyweds moved back to Montréal and after a brief time with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Art with his young family, returned to Hamilton in 1955 and opened his insurance agency with the State Farm Insurance Company. Imagine the courage it took to go from the French culture and language to Ontario to create a new insurance agency from scratch all while having to learn the english language. Art's career flourished for over thirty-five years as the local "Good Neighbour" State Farm Agent, first in Hamilton and then finishing out his career in 1990 in Burlington. Next to his family and his faith his business was his life. Art once said next to being a priest, being an agent and being able to genuinely help support people in his agency during some of the toughest times in their lives was the best job a person could ever have.
Art with his beautiful wife, Therese, raised four children Michael (Maria), Stephen (predeceased 1962), Gordon (Joanne) and Mary (Glen). He was known to all his relatives simply as "Uncle Art", Art was a gentle man of faith, aspiring to the beliefs of kindness and loyalty whether it be for his friends, family or his valued policyholders. He had a love of travel and tennis and was very active in his church as an usher, reader, member of the funeral choir (AKA "The Deadbeats") and a Eucharistic Minister.
Art is survived by his grandchildren David (Ashley) and Jennifer (Charles).
Special thanks to his daughter Mary for all her love and care for Dad during his final years. Our deepest appreciation to Dr. Priestner of Burlington and the wonderful staff at McNally Hospice in Grimsby for their compassion and care.
Visitation will be at the Smith's Funeral Home, 485 Brant Street, Burlington on Sunday from 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. The Funeral Mass will take place at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, 2016 Blairholm Ave. Burlington on Monday March 21 at 10:30 a.m. This will be followed by a modest celebration onsite and interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 600 Spring Gardens Rd, Burlington beginning at 2 p.m.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by The Hamilton Spectator on Mar. 16, 2022.
Memories and Condolences
for Arthias Tessier
1 Entry
Claude Rochefort
March 16, 2022
I met Art during the early days of my State Farm career. His pride and dedication to his policyholders marked him as a consummate professional.
My sincere sympathies to his family on the loss of a wonderful gentleman and a true State Farm pioneer.
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