Obituary of Omer Joseph Boudreau

BOUDREAU, Omer Joseph 82 - of Petit de Grat It is with broken hearts and deep sadness that we, the family of Omer Joseph Boudreau announce the passing of our husband, father, grandfather (Pépé), brother, uncle, cousin, and friend to many, that occurred at his residence in Petit de Grat on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020. Born April 22nd, 1938 in Petit de Grat, he was the son of the late Walter Daniel and Alma (Boudreau) Boudreau. Omer was a fisherman all his life and he absolutely loved what he did for a living. He was introduced to fishing by his father and older brothers. One month after turning 14 years old, Omer began fishing on his own out of Petit de Grat. Thus began a life on the water commercially fishing for well over 50 years. Omer fished waters from Newfoundland and the rest of the Atlantic provinces, all the way to Vancouver Island. He fished all species from lobster and other shellfish, to groundfish, as well as West Coast salmon. Omer enjoyed all fishing but he had a real passion for swordfishing! There was nothing he loved more than being out on a beautiful day, the water oily flat calm, swordfish finning high, and “striking” a few good fish; or better still, the challenge of harpooning a swordfish that was underwater. He truly must have had salt water in his veins! Omer loved the sea and fished for himself and, in the early years, also made some trips aboard fishing draggers out of Petit de Grat as a deckhand and then as Second Engineer. He also had stints working as Captain of the Pilot boat in Port Hawkesbury, as well as working at the Point Tupper pulp mill when it was being built. Omer worked there with a millwright from Germany to set up the scale and kicker plate. Omer was a lifetime member of the Isle Madame New Horizons Seniors Club in Arichat and enjoyed the monthly suppers and the occasional dance at the club. He was also a huge fan of classic country music, traditional Cape Breton fiddle music and Newfoundland tunes ̶ ̶ especially those featuring the accordion. Omer was a lifelong hunter and enjoyed harvesting ducks, rabbits, and deer and continued to enjoy hunting in his later years alongside his wife, Debbie. In the summer, fishing and boating were usual pastimes. In the past, during the winter months, Omer used to get out once in a while to play cards with the boys down the Point for ducks, rabbits, or pounds of scallops! He also liked to do some ATV riding in the winter and travel south. Omer and Debbie had some wonderful vacations but he always said “There’s no place like home!”. Omer loved living in his hometown of Petit de Grat. He was a very soft-hearted man and he unashamedly shed more than a few tears over the years when it came to showing the love and pride he felt for his family. The friends and loved ones who were privileged and lucky enough to be close to him are going to find a huge void in their lives now that Omer has passed. He will be greatly missed by many. Omer is survived by his loving wife, Deborah Ann Dickson Boudreau, Petit de Grat; sons, Darin (Geralyn) of Antigonish, Dean (Donna) of Petit de Grat; daughters, Dollene Boudreau and Dorella Boudreau (Dale Horwill) both of Halifax; grandchildren, Bryden (Maggie MacDonald), Kristen (Ryan Chisholm), Drake (Andrée), Dobson, Madison, and Colton. Omer is also survived by brothers, Delmore (Germaine), and Peter (Irene), and both of Petit de Grat; sisters, Etta Vincelette, Magog, Québec, and Olive Martell, Petit de Grat. As well, Omer is survived by his first wife, and mother of his four children, Elizabeth Landry-Bowen, and former special companion, Muriel Benoit. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his brothers, Roy, Raymond, Joachim (Joe), and Antoine (Tony); and sisters, Dorilla and Sarah (Boudreau) Dunn. Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held in C.H. Boudreau Funeral Home Ltd. in Arichat on Saturday, November 7th, 2020 from 2-4 and 7-9 pm. Due to Covid-19 visitors are required to follow social distancing protocols and masks are mandatory. Funeral Mass to Celebrate the Life of Omer, will be held Saturday, May 28, 2022, at St. Joseph's Church, Petit de Grat at 11:00 am with Rev John DeCoste officiating. A private family graveside service will be held at a later date in the Star of the Sea Cemetery in Petit de Grat. Memorial donations may be made to the Strait Richmond Palliative Care Society or The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada. A sincere and heartfelt thank you to our family doctor, Dr. Laurie MacNeil, Dr. Leo Pereira, Dr. Ronald Yan (QEII-Hematology Dept., Halifax), Dr. Phillip Cooper, Sarah Touesnard, RN, nurses and staff of St. Martha’s Regional Hospital in Antigonish, Strait Richmond Hospital, Strait Richmond Palliative Care, Richmond County Continuing Care, St-Anne’s Community and Nursing Care Centre, EHS, and Dawn Oliver and the staff of Family 1st Medical in Antigonish, for all of their exceptional services and compassionate care provided to Omer. To everyone who supported our family or helped out in any way, your thoughtfulness will never be forgotten and is deeply appreciated. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to C.H. Boudreau Funeral Home in Arichat. To send words of comfort to the family, or to light a candle in memory of Omer, please visit www.chboudreau.com