Obituary of Leo-Andrew Noonan

LEO ANDREW NOONAN Peacefully, in faith, and surrounded by his loving family, Leo Andrew Noonan, beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2004. He will be dearly missed by wife, Marie-Therese (Blanc); his son, Gerard (Shelly) and their children, Chelsey (Russell), Christopher (Karina), Kathleen (Kevin), Jenny, and Colleen; his son, Paul (Diane) and their children, Michael (Kelly), Christine, and Sarah; his daughter, Bernadette (Brian) and their children, Robert (Jessica), Peter, David, and Matthew; six great-grandchildren; brothers- and sisters-in-law; and numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. Leo was predeceased by five children, Lorraine-Adele, Michael, Robert, Joseph, and Christine Marie. Leo was born in Perth, Ont. in 1921 to his parents, George and Lorraine, into a family of seven brothers and four sisters, who all predeceased him. He served in the R.C.A.F. from 1942-45 along with five of his brothers. He married in 1947, operated his own grocery business in Perth (1945-51), joined Canada Safeway in 1952, and operated stores in Winnipeg, Fort Frances, and Brampton, Ont. In 1971, he purchased a dining lounge in Fort Frances, which has developed into La Place Rendez-Vous—a 75-room resort facility on Rainy Lake. Upon retirement, one of Leo’s greatest joys and accomplishments was his involvement in CESO projects with First Nations groups in Ontario in the 1970s and overseas hotel projects in Jamaica, St. Kitts, Dominica, Peru, Indonesia, Chile, Guyana, and Guatemala. Leo loved people and was happiest when helping someone—a friend or a stranger. He served as president of the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce and president of the St. Boniface Kiwanis Club. He was a Fourth-Degree member of the Knights of Columbus. His dedicated service spanned many years and included various offices within the Knights: Grand Knight (1962-63) and charter member of the K of C Council #3531 in Perth. Leo also was a founding member of The Sunset Country Tourist Board until his retirement in 1985. Thank you to Donna Main and the staff at the Community Care Access Centre for helping to make Dad’s final days as peaceful and comfortable as possible. Also special friends Ron Bernardi and Lillian Newman, and cousin, Jack Watters. Prayers and viewing will be held Monday, Aug. 16, 2004 from 2-4:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s R.C. Church in Fort Frances. At 4:30 p.m., there will be prayers and presentation by the Knights of Columbus and the Royal Canadian Legion Colour Party. Mass of the Ressurection will be celebrated by Fr. Francis Pudicherry at 5 p.m. Cremation to follow. His ashes will be interred at the foot of his daughter, Christine Marie’s, grave in Holy Cross Cemetery in For Frances. Pallbearers will be his five grandchildren, Christopher Noonan, Michael Noonan, and Robert, Peter, and David Moen; and brother-in-law, Ian Adams. In addition, participating in the service will be his grandchildren, Christine, Sarah, and Colleen Noonan, and Matthew Moen. Honourary pallbearers will be his brother Knights from Council #2766. In lieu of flowers, in memoriam donations may be made to the Fort Frances Community Chest at 1201 Idylwild Dr., B-2, RR#2, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M3. “To know the Rose Is to know God To know the faced rose will bud again Is to know eternity.”