Obituary of Joseph Benjamin (Benny) Marchand

MARCHAND, Joseph Benjamin “Benny” of Louisdale It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our Dad, Papa and Super Papa, Joseph Benjamin “Benny” Marchand of Louisdale . He passed away with his family by his side at the Strait Richmond Hospital in Evanston on November 7, 2025 and started his journey to heaven where he was met with the Lord and his family members that have passed before him. Born on November 30, 1929, he was the son of the late Benjamin and Elizabeth (Samson) Marchand. Dad, which was known to all his family as Papa, will be remembered fondly as a man without a bad bone in his body. He was our hero in so many ways. We remember, when growing up, he would walk the floor with us in his arms when we were sick, rubbed our legs when we had growing pains, helped us ride our bikes and would walk down the hill in the middle of a snow storm to the store for milk and we would be watching in the window until we saw him safely round the corner. We have such beautiful memories of how much he cared for our sister Stephanie. Mom always stayed with Stephanie in the hospital so she was never alone and he made daily trips to the IWK. He would drive to Halifax after work then drive back to Louisdale in the evening to go to work the next day. He repeated this daily and never once complained he was tired. He never wanted to miss any of Stephanie’s milestones or complication that may arise. The dedication to his family went beyond what any word could possibly describe. Dad had left school near the age of 14 to help his family by working in the woods with his father, our Grandpa Benny. He would tell us stories of walking “to the west end” and having to carry the wood back to the house multiple times a day. He also helped his mother, our Grandma Zabeth in the garden, the house and in the barn. By the age of 19, Dad was ready to leave home and venture out to Toronto with his traveling buddies, Ambrose and Vincent, with a “bottle” and no money. His first job was at a garage detailing luxury vehicles and he was so excited when he got to drive the Rolls Royce. He became very good friends with his boss even being his getaway driver when he had arguments with his wife. He then worked with Dufferin Cement, a large cement company in Toronto and that began his obsession with cement trucks. Up until his last days with us he would tell us stories of driving the cement truck through the streets of Toronto and he remembered every street name, intersection and landmark around the city. And he was never wrong as we checked Google maps and yes, he was always right. He prided himself with his physical fitness from a very young age and until the end of his final days. The YMCA became his second home while in Toronto . He would be the first to make sure you were lifting weights properly and that your skates were securely tied. The trampoline was his favorite at the gym as he told us often. He even dabbled a bit in boxing in his 20’s and 30’s. We always had a laugh when we would watch a boxing match on TV with him as he would move his body as they were sparing. Dad moved in with his sister Freda and brother in law Alec while in Ontario , met our mother, Alice and married on April 4, 1959. Dad had a great love for children and that shined when he was with his nieces and nephews, whom he treated as his own. They moved back to Louisdale in April of 1967 and was blessed with their first child in 1968 , Cindy . In 1970 they welcomed thier miracle baby Stephanie and finally in 1973 the family was complete with Baby Jenny. Dad was the best dad anyone could ever ask for. Dad was the pillar of our family and our rock. A mild mannered man with a heart of gold. Our current home , which is where the Old Barn was , became known as “the skate sharpening house. If you skated in the 70’s and 80’s you probably had your skates sharpened in the basement at Benny’s and sat on steps in the porch waiting for them to be ready. The skate sharpener still has its home in the basement to this day. Dad was a jack of all trades and a master of all. He held many jobs before his retirement . He worked at AECL in Port Hawkesbury, he worked tying rebar for many new constructions around Cape Breton and the mainland. He also worked as a plumber, electrician, and did furnace installs and cleaning around Nova Scotia for Landry Brothers and Marchand Plumbing and Heating. Dad had much love and adoration for his family. He was up for anything with everyone. Fishing, hunting ( but would never shoot ), clam digging, squid jigging, helping with exercise routines and balancing the young ones on his hands. On Mother’s Day in 1992 dad was blessed to become a Papa when his two grandchildren, Scott and Ashley, were born. They were his everything and they both became his little sidekicks. A bond that he cherished forever. After our mom’s passing in 2003 dad became a huge help and support for our sister , Stephanie. They were best buddies. They gardened together, cooked together, shopped together, went to church together and looked over each other with immense love until her passing in 2021. Dad became the best story teller in his later years. His stories made us feel like we lived his childhood with him. From playing with Fido, milking the cows, the consequences of stealing fudge to most currently stories about how happy it is to sit around the dinner table laughing about memories rather than frowning. He taught us so much that we will pass on to generations to come. He loved to the extreme. Family was his everthing and he was our everything. On October 27th , 2025 Dad/Papa graduated to Super Papa Benny. His great grandson was born. Benjamin (Baby Ben) Joseph Bonin surprised us early and dad's eyes were gleaming with joy. The namesake continues for our big beautiful family. We are so extremely happy that dad got to meet Baby Ben via video chat during his time in the NICU at the IWK. The impact that dad had on his family and friends is immeasurable. His laughter was infectious and his memory will live on . The impact of his relationships and memories that he had not only with his wife, daughters, grandchildren and great grandson goes well beyond. His many nieces and nephews and their children always carried a very special place in his heart. He spoke so highly of all of you on a daily basis. The concern and love he had for you all was the most beautiful love you can have for anyone . We want to thank all our cousins for the love, respect and support you all had for him and us. Trust us in knowing that each and everyone of you were spoken of, prayed for and cared for daily. Thank you all for reciprocating those feelings to him. We never had a concern for papa knowing how much you all loved him. It never once went unnoticed by him or us. So from the bottom of hearts Thank You for the care and concern you have for our family. Papa, may your tea be sweet enough, your driveway paved and your veranda wrapped around you. And remember that we love you…..just a little bit more. Benny is survived by his daughters Cindy Bonin (Michael), Louisdale, Jennifer Tattrie (Trevor), Harmony; grandchildren Scott Bonin (Erin Landry), Ashley Bonin (Teagan Martell) and his first great grandchild, Benjamin (Ben) Bonin. Dad is also survived by sisters in law Stella (Rudolph)Sampson, Margo (Raymond) Jeffrey and Marion Jeffrey brothers in law Johnny (Mildred) Jeffrey, Francis (Anne) Jeffrey, Chester (Darlene) Jeffrey and an many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, Benny was predeceased by his wife Mary Alice (Jeffrey) Marchand; daughter Stephanie Marchand; siblings Narcisse (Maude), Nellie (Felix) Landry, Ina, Viola, Clarence (Angela), Gladys (John) Hanson, Francis (Jean), Vina (Tom) Cormier, Jean Baptiste, Godfrey (Rita), Leonard (Alice), Mildred (Boyd) Nichols, Emile ( Edith), Edith, Freda (Alec) Marchand, Priscille ( Felix) Marchand, and Blanche (Abram) Sampson ; Sisters in law Anna (Gordon) Landry, Dorothy (Raymond) Marchand , Josephine (Abram) Burke. Brothers in law Edward Jeffrey, Leonard (Shirley) Jeffrey, Raymond Jeffrey, mother in law Mary Stoj-Jeffrey and father in law Leonard Jeffrey. Cremation has taken place. There will be no visitation per dad’s request. Funeral mass will take place on Wednesday, November 12th in St. Louis Parish at 11am with Rev. Duncan MacIsaac. Burial to follow in St. Louis Parish Cemetery. A reception will follow at the St. Louis Parish Hall in Louisdale. Memorial donations may be made to the I.W.K. Health Centre. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to C. H. Boudreau Funeral Home Limited.