Obituary of Raymond Belcourt

Raymond Antoine Belcourt of Lafleche, SK, passed away on Thursday, May 23, 2013, at the age of 89 years. Raymond was born in Lafleche, SK, on July 26, 1923, the eldest son of Adrien and Jeanne Belcourt. He took most of his schooling at the Convent in Lafleche. In 1942 Raymond joined the Canadian Army and took his training in Canada. In 1943 he went overseas to England, where he joined the 14th Field Ambulance Unit, which was attached to the 7th Brigade of the 3rd Canadian Division. His unit landed on D-Day, and Raymond served in France, Holland and Germany. He remained with the Army of Occupation in Germany after the war. Upon his return home in 1946, Raymond worked as a clerk in the drugstore alongside his dad, and later with his brother Edmond, when he took over the store in 1963. Raymond retired in 1996 after over forty years behind the counter. In 1961, Raymond married Angela Abel and they were blessed with two children, Jacqueline Marie and Georges Antoine. Many memorable holidays were spent at the Belcourt cottage at B-Say-Tah. Raymond and Angela went to Holland in 1995 for the fiftieth anniversary of the liberation of Holland. It was wonderful trip and the highlight for Raymond was to go back to the area where his company was stationed after the war. Raymond and Angela most recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary together with their entire family in the summer of 2011. Raymond was a charter member of the Knights of Columbus and the Lions Club, and a proud member of the Royal Canadian Legion. He loved music, enjoyed playing his clarinet and a good game of cribbage. Raymond was a devoted Toronto Maple Leaf and Chicago Cub fan. Raymond is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 51 years Angela (nee Abel); daughter Jacqueline (Perri) Poirier, grandchildren Adrian, Elizabeth, Paula, Michael; son Georges (Terri) Belcourt, grandchildren Timothy and Joshua; siblings Emile (Norma) Belcourt, Adrienne Corkery, Aline (Merle) Sproule, Edmond (Laura) Belcourt, Pierre (Val) Belcourt; brother-in-law Al (Edith) Abel. Predeceased by his parents, Adrien and Jeanne (nee Rivard) Belcourt; brother Robert Belcourt; mother-in-law Rosie Abel; brother-in-law Dick Corkery. Prayers were held on Tuesday, May 28, 2013, at 7:00 p.m., with Joanne Vinish presider, and Funeral Mass was celebrated on Wednesday, May 29, 2013, at 2:00 p.m., with Father Maurice Minne, both at Ste Radegonde Roman Catholic Church, Lafleche, SK. Readers were Nadine Rhode and Helen Sandau. Prayers of the Faithful were shared by Aline Sproule. Offertory gifts were presented by Adrian Poirier, Elizabeth Poirier, Paula Poirier, Michael Poirier, Timothy Belcourt and Joshua Belcourt. Betty-Ann Tallon and Friends were accompanied by organist Leona Bourgeois. Honour guards were formed by the Royal Canadian Legion and the Knights of Columbus. Pallbearers were Dave Sproule, Jim Hribnak, Roger Belcourt, David Lethbridge, Maureen Froelich and Lois Carr. Interment took place at the Lafleche Roman Catholic Cemetery. Memorial donations in memory of Raymond to the Ste Radegonde Restoration Fund, Box 518, Lafleche, SK S0H 2K0, were greatly appreciated. Online condolences can be shared at www.pichehawkinsgrondinfuneralchapels.ca. Funeral arrangements entrusted to Piche-Hawkins-Grondin Funeral Chapels, Assiniboia & Gravelbourg.