Obituary of Louis Clement Boudreau

BOUDREAU, Louis Clement, Arichat, Age 82 It is with broken hearts that we announce the death of our beloved Papa, Pépé, Grand Pépé, who passed away on July 12, 2023. Louis will be sadly missed by his son Douglas (Jennie) Boudreau, Arichat; daughters Cathy Boudreau, Arichat, Lois Boudreau, Rocky Bay, Della Boudreau, Halifax, Donna (Sandy) MacLellan, Ottawa; grandchildren Brian, Julien, Melissa, Joel, Emily, Abby, Katelyn, Cassie, Paige; great grandson Tanner; brothers Robert Boudreau, Montreal, John (Addean) Boudreau, West Arichat ; sisters Claire (Vincent) Landry, Petit de Grat, Zita Perry, Eastern Passage, Mary Kehoe, Rocky Bay, Theresa (Merrill) Boudreau, Lower Sackville, Debbie (Blair) Martell, Lower Sackville, Claudette (Terry) Doucet, Fall River; sisters-in-law, Brenda Boudreau, Arichat, Lorraine Landry, Petit de Grat, Ina Samson, Samson’s Cove; brother-in-law Hycinth Samson, Texas; Godchildren, Wanda (Sean) Landry, Ottawa, Mark (Claire) Samson, Cole Harbour, Sheldon (Jeannie) Boudreau, Port Morien. He was predeceased by his parents Cyril and Idella (Arsenault) Boudreau, his loving wife Mary Yvonne Boudreau; sons Kenny and Travis; brothers Adam, Kenny, Adolphe; sisters-in-law Pauline Boudreau, Freda Boudreau, Mable Samson; brothers-in-law, Eric Kehoe, Leo Perry, Conrad Landry, Wilfred Samson, Alzear Boudreau; nephew/Godchild, Billy Samson; and niece, Debbie Samson Let us tell you “a little short story” about the life of Big Louis. Big Louis left home at a young age, to start working. He was 14 years old when he bought his first lobster license for 25 cents. Dad always fished, his first boat was a fishing dory. With fishing not being very lucrative, he also worked at Booths Fisheries, where he met Yvonne, the love of his life. They married in 1961 and were married for 61 years. He went away on the lake boats, but didn’t like being away from Yvonne for long. He also worked on the draggers as Second Engineer. Along the lines, he bought his second boat, nicknamed “Le Concombre”, a green open wooden speed boat. Later, he bought “The Noo Snow” and fished with that boat for a number of years. In later years he had the 1st “Della & Donna” built. This was Louis and Yvonne’s pride and joy. There were many family trips to Main-A-Dieu to watch it being built. He fished his whole life, lobster fishing, scallop dragging, setting gill nets for mackerel, herring and smelts, a fish trap (which us kids hated!), mackerel jigging reals, squid jigging and long lining. When Louis wasn’t fishing or peddling fish, he was always working. He bid and won contracts for setting channel markers and buoys around the Island’s waters. He welded for people, sold car parts, small engine repair, and he drilled and blasted rocks (aka Dynamite Man). Eventually, Dad had the 2nd “Della & Donna” built, a bigger boat that suited him better. Dad worked hard, and we worked hard along side him and mom. Helping with fishing, gardening, cutting wood for the wood stove for our winter heat, painting buoys or taking care of the many animals we had. As kids, we always had animals, cows, chickens, and pigs (which Dad showed up with). We have many happy memories, clam digging and camping on Jerseyman’s Island, staying at the camp in the passage, trips to Green Island, of course lots of fishing trips and visits to Halifax when Douglas and Cathy first moved away. Louis was a member of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary Maritimes for over 30 years, having responded to many calls for search and rescue. Louis in his later years, needed a wheelchair, but that didn’t stop him from being the Shore Captain, while Douglas fished on his behalf. He was always on the go, driving himself around and going visiting family and friends. Big Louis, The Dynamite Man, Louis a Cyril, Papa, Pépé, Grand Pépé, with no education, built a wonderful life for his family, he worked hard, was generous, and left us with many wonderful memories. We consider ourselves lucky to have had him in our lives. We love you Papa. Thanks for the wonderful memories. We will miss you terribly. Thanks so much to Dr. Laurie McNeil, Dr. Steven Deroche, Dr. Archibald, and the nurses and staff at the Straight Richmond Hospital and Cape Breton Regional Hospital Unit 4D for their excellent care. Cremation has taken place. Visitation will be held in C. H. Boudreau Funeral Home, Arichat on Tuesday, July 18th from 2-4pm & 6-8pm. A funeral mass to celebrate the life of Louis will be held on Wednesday, July 19th, 11am in Our Lady of Assumption Church, Arichat with Rev. John DeCoste officiating. Burial will take place at a later date. Reception to follow the mass in Our Lady of Assumption Parish Hall, Arichat. Memorial donations can be made to St. Anne’s Centre in Arichat.