Claude Lemieux

LEMIEUX, Reverend Claude, CSsR Father Claude Lemieux longtime resident of Grande Prairie passed away at home on Sunday, December 2nd 2007 at the age of 72 years. The fifth of ten children, of Adolphe Lemieux and Helene Levesque, Claude was born in a granary in Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan, on July 17, 1935.There was no holding back this energetic and funny garcon. He worked hard enough at public speaking en anglais, to win the Saskatchewan 4H Oratory contest. He also won Top prize at the 1953 Royal Winter Fair in Toronto in the judging of hogs. In 1954, the now fluently bilingual Claude, got a job with the Federal Department of Agriculture. The government sent Claude to the University of Saskatchewan for a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. Before he completed this degree he was lead to begin studies at St. Mary's College in Brockville, Ontario in January 1956. Claude then made his first profession of vows with the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists) in Woodstock, Ontario on September 15, 1957. Claude studied Theology at Holy Redeemer College in Windsor, Ontario and was ordained on June 21, 1964 by Bishop Emmet Carter. He was first appointed to Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Vancouver. In 1970 he was named pastor of Our Lady of the Foothills Parish, Hinton, Alberta. Father Claude became a founding member of a new mission team in the Edmonton Province of Redemptorists. It was a serious effort to address the needs of the church in Western Canada after the second Vatican Council. He brought his creative mind, humorous stories, and unending energy, to this missionary effort for 25 years. In 1999, Father Claude retired from the Mission Team and was appointed to St. Joseph Parish in Grande Prairie. In 2002, he was diagnosed with a cancer that attacks cells in the blood. Ever the optimist, he carried on with his work within the Peace River Country working in St. Joseph Parish, Grande Prairie and also helping other priests to get away for a holiday or serving in Parish communities where no priest was available. He was a treasured confrere, who throughout his 40 years of priesthood, has walked the pilgrimage of Jesus hand-in-hand with the poor. We often think of him as a Troubadour for the Lord. A study period in Israel in 1985 left a yearning in him to return to the Holy Land. During November of this year he fulfilled that yearning and completed a nine day pilgrimage. He stated that it was an important spiritual preparation for his death, which occurred two days after his return from Israel. He also made pilgrimages to many funerals, weddings and social gatherings with his family. A pastor within his own family, Father Claude could always be counted on for presiding at weddings, and for wisdom and encouragement generously given to his brothers and sisters and their families. He will be sadly missed by his nine sisters and brothers: Leonard Lemieux (Isabelle), Edna Brunning (Raymond), Laurette Bzdel (Ray), Clotillde Regnier, Ben Lemieux (Lorraine), Bernie McRann (Wendell) Larry Lemieux (Jeanne), Victor (Janet), and Roger (Jacqueline). Father Claude was predeceased by his mother Helene and his father Adolphe; nephew Donald Bzdel, brother-in-law Donald Regnier, and niece Colleen McRann. Father Claude's passion for service to poor and his positive attitude within our community will be greatly missed by all his Redemptorist confreres. We would like to thank all those who supported him in his years of service within the Church and all the many hands that supported him so lovingly at the time of his death. Visitation will be held at Oliver's Funeral Home in Grande Prairie on Wednesday, December 5th between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.; and at St. Joseph Catholic Church between 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. A Vigil Service will then be celebrated at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday the 6th of December at 11:00 a.m. A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church on Friday, December 7th at St. Albert Catholic Church, 7 St. Vital Avenue, St. Albert, a Vigil Service will be celebrated at 7:00 p.m. Then on Saturday, December 8th at 11:00 a.m., a Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at St. Albert Catholic Church. Donations may be made to the Grande Prairie Cancer Centre or the St. Joseph Parish Walk-In Ministry. Condolences may be sent by visiting: www.oliversgrandeprairie.com Connelly-McKinley Ltd. ST.Albert Funeral Home 9 Muir Drive,St.Albert,780-458-2222 Family owned & operated since 1908.