August 31, 1943 – January 1, 2014
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Fred Aberle who left us New Years Day at his home in Victoria after succumbing to a lengthy series of complicated health issues. Fred was born in Timmons, Ontario on August 31, 1943. He is survived by his wife Faye; sisters Carol Latendresse and Marie Tidd; in-laws Alan Pritchard and Laurine Didier, Lorraine Pritchard and Stan Phillips, Lynne and Wayne Sanderson; plus nieces, nephews and the host of lifelong friends too numerous to mention in this small space.
Fred left an impression on virtually everyone he met throughout his teaching career and in his second calling as a highly successful pharmaceutical representative. He was a keen competitor, a compassionate mentor, a gifted storyteller, a connoisseur of fine wine and a music lover. His immense generosity knew no bounds. Above all, he was a devoted and loving husband to Faye, whom he met in 1967 while they were both teaching in Deloraine, Manitoba. They wed the following year. When Faye contracted Multiple Sclerosis in the early eighties, Fred embarked on a new path as that of her healthcare champion. This became his lifelong priority eclipsing even his own health issues that surfaced in recent years. He will be remembered always as a devoted husband, a stand-out neighbour and loyal friend.
The family wishes to especially acknowledge and thank both Alison Lockhart, for being a friend and advocate in Fred’s time of need, and the staff of Beacon Community Services for the love, care and compassion they have provided.
A celebration of Fred’s life will be held at McCall’s Downtown,1400 Vancouver Street, Victoria, BC on Thursday, January 9, 2014 at 2:00 pm with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Canadian Mental Health Association would be appreciated. Condolences may be expressed to the family below.
McCall’s Funeral Home
www.mccallbros.com.
55 Responses
Dear Faye and family,
Fred was a very professional and responsible colleague fully dedicated to Merck and always smiling; I remember the conversations that I had with him during cocktails, dinners or meetings; he always had constructive suggestions for the gang from the east.
Please accept my sincere condolences,
André Marcheterre
I loved Mr Aberle !!!! He was every students cheerleader and wanted them to succeed. It was great to reconnect with him at the high school reunion (I don’t remember the year). Even then he had positive comments to encourage every student he taught. I remember you being my English teacher in Grade 7 and please accept my condolences. Having both of you in my court was great even through the difficult circumstances you were given to teach a bunch of misfits that included myself. I don’t remember much about math in grade 7 as we had numerous visits from the RCMP, firefighters, social workers, store managers but we must have done some math as I still use the techniques Mr Aberle taught us. My thoughts are with you at this difficult time.
Dearest Faye, You are in my heart and in my prayers. Freddie will forever be such a big part of Thompson Teacher’s history and mythology. He was always there with his quick wit and his ever present smile. When I came to town such a young teacher the two of you were so kind and so encouraging – and so brave! To paint a Dragon on the wall of the entire school! Freddie wasn’t afraid of anything or anyone! He taught me that “It’s easier to get forgiveness than permission” and he was SO right. Hugs, Ellen Dale
Faye,
my condolences on freds passing
he was a great guy, loved by so many and remembered so fondly by so mnay students
tke care
john
Dear Faye and family,
To this day my fondest memories of Fred would be as my grade 8 math teacher. He would call my home to quiz me on my times tables or to my horror see me in the arena and yell ” hey Farquhar what is 6×8″. Well Fred today I would know it is 48.
My sympathies to you Faye .I will remember him just like that!
Christie Farquhar.
Faye. We are so sorry to hear of Fred’s passing.He was truly a great man! He was caring and generous to a fault and his devotion to you was remarkable and the essence of TRUE love.We too remember the invites to Boston Pizza on Pembina on Friday nights or whatever night! You could never beat Fred to the bill- he always managed to have already covered it. Fred will surely be missed by tons of people as he knew just about everybody. Keep the faith Faye he is looking after you from his condo in the heavens and keeping everybody entertained and trying to order pizza from Boston pizza-great white north of course! It was a privilege to have known Fredrick Aberle
Dear Faye,
Well, I mailed you a personal card, and was not going to write anything publicly here.
However, after hearing the speeches at Fred’s service, and reading what everyone else has posted here, I feel compelled to share too. I really have appreciated and enjoyed reading what others have written, so I should share too.
I will never forget Fred, and the hundreds of stories he has left me with. He always had a joke to share with me and John, and would go out of his way to phone me with them, or print a copy for me to take home. He had an amazing memory for jokes, and when I tried to re-tell them I could never do them justice, or make them nearly as entertaining as Fred did. There is no doubt he had that gift.
A couple of events jump to mind when I think about Fred:
– being asked to come and help get the overhead projector working for an upcoming condo meeting (yes, an overhead projector, still in service — this was even within the past year or so). Fred, Alison and I spent what could easily have been an hour, trying to figure out why the thing would not project. Fred was irate because whoever in the building used it last had obviously lost the piece of paper with the instructions on it. I even found a manual on-line for it, and that did not help. We kept trying, when a part accidentally popped open, and lo and behold, the instruction sheet was in there, and, that was what had been blocking the projection then entire time! Too funny. I am sure, Faye, that you were pretty amused by the whole spectacle.
– When I worked with Merck, Fred would very frequently phone me in the morning to see what time I wanted to get going. Shortly after I met him, he phoned, and I told him to come around 9:30. Of course, he showed up at 8:30, and I was not at all ready to go. No problem Sab, he said, I’ll wait for you. And he did. Made himself comfy on our couch, with our Globe and Mail. Next thing I see is my husband John walk into the living room (he had not yet met Fred at this point) to see a man, asleep on the couch, snoring, with the newspaper on his face! Who on earth is on the couch with my newspaper on his head? A fond memory now for sure, and an event that was repeated many times in my time at Merck. Fred was famous for his power naps.
– At one of my first meetings, we flew to Calgary. We got off the plane, and I retrieved my checked baggage. Fred insisted he had not checked a bag, which was perplexing to me as his carry-on was really, really small. I asked him about it, and he said he packs light. In the van on the way to the hotel, all of a sudden Fred uttered some colourful words. What’s up I ask? “I forgot, I did have a suitcase!” The airport eventually found it, but as it was technically his fault, he had to pay to have it transported to the hotel.
I could go on and on, but so could we all. Every day I spent with Fred was great. We always laughed, and I witnessed his generosity time and time again — both toward me,and toward others. He was always helping someone, even if it threw a wrench in his own plans.
My whole family will miss Fred. We already do.
Love from the Charlesworths – Sab, John, Hannah and Zach
Our deepest sympathies go to you, Faye, as well as to Fred’s many other family members and friends.
I was so sorry to not be able to attend Fred’s funeral, however, when I think of Fred, I remember the exuberance he had for life and how he managed to pack more living into his years than most people do that live well into the 90’s!
Fred and I worked together for many years and he was extremely successful at what he did. He was a mentor for many of the newer employees and his customers loved him!
In this very difficult time, know that we are thinking of you, Faye, and your loss.
Sheila and Julian Davis
I was saddened to hear the news of Fred’s passing.
I met Fred on my first day of training in the fall of 1988 when he was my Trainer at the Head Office of Merck in Kirkland. Within a few minutes he told our group, “You will be affecting the lives of many people if you are successful in this job.” He explained the rationale for his statement and he explained our importance within not just Merck and the pharma industry, but within the community. His words impacted me deeply. Not only did I buy into his philosophy personally and apply it as a rep, most of the people that I trained with and the others who were trained by Fred felt the same way. When I became a trainer I made it a point to quote Fred and his philosophy in my first meetings with trainees. I used his words as the Director of Training when addressing the trainee groups.
Fred’s philosophy has impacted healthcare workers, patients and families in Canada through his direct impact with his customers, the influence he had on the people he mentored and through the people who carried his message and phylosopy in their own careers. Even today in my work I used Fred’s philosophy as a cornerstone – Fred was ahead of his time in being Patient Focused. He has impacted the lives of thousands of people all across the country directly and indirectly leaving the world a better place – we can only hope to have such an impact ourselves.
Jim Shea
General Manager
The Council for Continuing Pharmaceutical Education (CCPE/APMR)
Dear Faye and Family
I am very sad to read of Freddie’s passing. It brings back many memories and in all of them he was smiling or laughing about something. From your Christmas letter I know that the last years had some struggles for you both. Knowing Freddie I’m sure he met them with a grace and style that is a lesson for us all. I enjoyed following he’s adventures like his trip to the Grey Cup. I imagine he probably talked to half the city of Edmonton. You’ll be in my thoughts and prayers
Mike Forbes