1914-2012
Dad was born in Montreal and educated in Quebec and later in France where his father headed sales for Colgate Palmolive. Upon returning to Canada he met a young lady, Madeleine Cartier, who became the love of his life. Mom and Dad married in 1939. For 72 years through many trials, adventures, joys and sorrows, they were a team. Shortly after their marriage Dad was transferred to Winnipeg where Jose was born. During the Second World War Dad trained as a navigator with the RCAF and was posted to Edmonton where Mike joined the family. The post war years brought adventures in farming, sales of farming equipment and rescuing failing dealerships across the prairies. Eventually settling in Saskatoon, Dad built a successful real estate business and Suzanne was added to the family list. They were happy years, summers swimming in the lake and winter skating parties and lot of friends around. Growing restless, Dad took us west to Vancouver then on to Seattle. He returned to university in his 40’s ultimately receiving degrees from Seattle University, University of Washington and University of Sussex, England.
The years at Seattle University were very happy ones. Mom was on Staff in Administration and all 3 kids attended in turn. Dad progressed from student to professor to Dept. Chair and Administrator. After retiring from Academia Mom and Dad took up residence in Victoria.
Dad became the Lay Administrator for the Diocese of Victoria. He also served on the Board of Coast Capitol Credit Union . Mom and Dad made many wonderful friends up and down the Island, as they had all across the country. They were blessed with many long years to enjoy these friends and family in their retirement. Mom passed away on March 16 and we knew Dad could not be long without her. Dad joined Mom on May 12, passing away quietly at Mt. St. Mary in Victoria. Now the team is together again. We will miss them both. They are survived by their children Jose (Gary Weber), Michael (Kathy) and Suzanne Olson, 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
Prayers will be celebrated at McCall Bros. Floral Chapel on Friday, June 1, 2012 at 7:00 pm. A Funeral Service will be held at St. Jean Baptiste on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at 10:30 am with interment to follow at Ross Bay Cemetery. Condolences may be offered below.
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Brenda Molloy, St Bonaventure Church, Port Hardy
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David Price Suzanne:
Your mother and father were two of my most beloved friends. We are all bereft at the loss of two remarkable human beings – warm, loving, witty and brilliant, quite irreplaceable. May they be blessed where they are now together.
With my deepest sympathy,
David Price
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James and Marilyn Stark We send our heartfelt condolences to the family for the loss of such fine people as Gerry and Madeleine Ricard. Gerry is responsible for introducing me to a career at Seatte University and mentoring me in my first years as a professor in the Language Department. As chairman he always found resources for activities I wanted for my students. Only later did I discover those funds came out of his own pocket. He and Madeleine attended “La fille du regiment” and showed me an advertisement in the program that propelled me into many years of study abroad with students. We were recently in Montreal and thought of them.
May they rest in peace.
James and Marilyn Stark
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Ronalda (Whyman) Arsenault I am so sorry for your loss. I remember very fondly both your Mom and Dad, they were good friends of my parents. My prayers are with you all.
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Jim & Heather Moynihan Suzanne,
It is bittersweet to read of Gerry’s passing so soon after your mom’s. You said it best, “now the team is together again.” I have nothing but great memories of your folks and mine spending so much time together – both when they lived in the Seattle area and after they moved to Victoria. I imagine they are having a grand reunion now.
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Lisa Lee To Suzanne,
Thinking about you and your family. Your Mom and Dad were two of my favourite people – what an amazing couple. I will remember their kindness and smiling faces.
Lisa Lee
I have very special, warm feelings for your father, Gerald. I first met him in 1979. Your father was instrumental in developing the MIC Fund, within the Diocese. A mutual fund designed to invest and share deposits within parishes on Vancouver Island. A new, concept, I believe.
I remember my first meeting with Gerald, in Victoria, at the Chancery Office. I was representing St Bonaventure Parish, as Treasurer and our meeting was to discuss finances. I travelled from Port Hardy, leaving very early in the morning. At that time, it was a very long drive. I arrived in his office, a very lofty, high windowed room, as I remembered. He had a wonderful old desk. He greeted me so graciously and asked me if I would care to have some lunch. Of course, I was starving. He made a call and shortly after, a plate of sandwiches and tea appeared. I was so overwhelmed! We had our meeting and I left feeling like a very special person. He wrote me after, telling me that I was ‘a very special person’. I so loved his reception and treatment of me – I treasure it and it contunes to motivate me in my lengthy serving of my church life. I am sure that you are proud of him and I am certainly proud to have served with him.
I didn’t realize, until I read the obituary, his ‘other’ services. I wasn’t aware of his ‘Academia’ life. I thought he was just a jewel who dropped out of the sky into the Diocese. A very special person for sure.