Obituary of Roger Daniel Basque

BASQUE, Roger Daniel, Potlotek It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Roger Daniel Basque of Potlotek which occurred at his residence in Potlotek on March 19, 2024. Born June 7, 1961, in Sydney, he was the son of the late John and Bridget Ann (Paul) Basque. Our brother Roger and his legacy and everyone in the community loving brother. Roger was no stranger to all who knew him, he was loved by all. It’s a great loss to our community and he will be missed dearly. Roger was well known as an environmentalist; he didn’t miss a speck of garbage around the community, he did his daily routine and picked up litter anywhere he found it; Roger can be seen carrying loads in his arms, he can be seen at Basque And Convenience sweeping and picking up trash, he was well known by many of the people that gambled there. Roger loved his community and everyone in it and loved to walk. Roger was diagnosed with schizophrenia in the early 80’s. Roger’s story began when he hitchhiked to Bangor after he got paid for blueberry picking in Cherryfield Maine. Roger got a ride but unfortunately, the vehicle he was traveling in hit the shoulder of the road, and the car skidded into a ditch and rolled over several times, Roger was hospitalized in Bangor Maine Hospital with severe injuries, but the way Roger was he dealt with his injuries his way and decided to come home with his untreated medical condition. He had severe head aches, and soreness from the accident, Roger decided to have a few drinks with his friends one evening, but one of those friends was not of good mind and dropped 2 hits of heavy drugs in Roger’s beer. After several days of delusions and not knowing who he was, our dad noticed something unusual with Roger, dad checked Roger in Dartmouth institution with the help of the medical profession, and was treated for a year in the institution. Roger was never the same and this is how Roger’s story began his long journeys to travel – his schizophrenia was mild as the psychiatrist diagnosed him. Roger heard voices and saw people who were not there, maybe that led him to travel; but also, he was aware and knew he had a family. For more than 6 years Roger was gone from Canada and crossed the border of the United States and into the Mexican Border, he walked to San Francisco and Malibu Beach and up the coast of British Columbia. That one time he was MIA for 6 years; the family contacted the Unsolved Mysteries and Roger’s photo was put on air throughout the USA, last we heard he was somewhere in Albuquerque New Mexico, the community did some fund raising, and sent our brother Jerome to go find him, but could not keep up with Rogers’ travels and Jerome decided to come back home. It was a long journey for Roger but he finally made it back home after he was picked up by the New Jersey State Police. Roger thought he could get away if they called his constable brother from Canada, but Kenny outsmarted Roger and told the Troopers to hold him in jail. Kenny along with another driver drove to New Jersey to pick him up, Roger was MIA from 1990 to 1996, Roger is now in his comfort zone, the spirit world; he missed our mother dearly after she passed away when he was only 9 years old and I’m sure it affected his mental state of mind; he often spoke of mom after she passed, and he could see her spirit walking through the halls of our childhood home. May He Rest in Peace. Roger is survived by his daughter Lorraine Marshall, Weko’maq; son Roger Mellen Sr. (Amanda) Membertou; grandchildren Roger Mellen Jr, Riley Mellen, and Rory Mellen, Joseph Jordan Phillips, Carvery Sandra Phillips, and Javon Marshall; brothers James Basque (Jenny O’Toole), Potlotek, Jerome Basque (Cynthia), Montreal, Kenny Basque (Diane), and Lloyd Basque, both of Potlotek; sisters Juliana Bernard, Weko’maq, Belinda “Binta” Basque, Potlotek, Anita Basque; godmother Irene “Mooney” Johnson Potlotek; and sister-in-law Mary Ann Basque. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his grandchildren Andrew Dennis, Zackery Dennis, and Ryder Mellen; brothers Norman, Mi’sel; sisters Sandra Basque, Annie Jane Toney, Nancy Basque in infancy; godfather Joe Stevens, brothers-in-law Alan Bernard, and Ben Toney Visitation will be held at Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Chapel in Potlotek on Monday, March 25, 2024, from 2 pm until Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at 1:30 pm, from where Funeral mass will be held at 2 pm with Father Duncan MacIsaac officiating. Burial to be held at a later date in the Immaculate Conception Parish Cemetery in Barra Head. A Salité will be held at the Potlotek Community Hall following the funeral mass. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to C.H. Boudreau Funeral Home Ltd., Arichat. Tributes, words of comfort, and memories of Roger may be shared with the family at www.chboudreau.com