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It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of
Felix Philien Jean Godard on July 21 2019 after a courageous 8 year battle with cancer. He is deeply missed by all who loved him.
He was born on April 30, 1933 in St. Alphonse, Manitoba.
As a young man, he worked on his family farm in Holland, Manitoba in the spring and summer and then went to Winnipeg to work in winter.
He married Mary, the love of his life on Oct 5, 1954 in Manitoba and began a family soon afterwards. They moved to BC in May 1956 and continued to increase their family which included 4 girls and 1 boy.
Felix worked for Dairyland for 4 years from 1959-1962 driving the tanker trucks and picking up milk at dairy farms in the lower mainland. He received safety awards for driving each of these years. He was a hard working man. He did whatever he could to support his family. He collected scrap metal, refinished old bicycles for resale, even worked setting up pins in a bowling alley and operating the Ferris Wheel at the PNE for a few summers. In the 60’s he started his own excavating business Felix Bulldozing and dug many, many basements for numerous builders in the lower mainland! He was well known in the residential construction industry. He retired from the business in 1990 and passed the business on to his son, Ray.
Dad had a love of motorcycles, he owned a beautiful Harley Davidson at one time. He and Ray began motocross racing in summer and flat track in the wintertime. He won over 100 trophies for his accomplishments, some for #1 Old Timer in BC and #3 Open Junior Champion in Canada!
Dad loved to have FUN! Work hard, Play hard! He was a teaser and a joker! Many summers were spent camping and water skiing at Kawkawa Lake. Daily water fights were a way of life at the lake…..and sometimes at home too! Then he got “footitis” and his boats began to grow bigger and bigger and more time was spent cruising the gulf islands, scuba diving, crabbing, fishing, catching, cooking and eating shrimp minutes after the traps were pulled up. Great fun was had with a wonderful group of friends affectionately referred to as “The Boat People”!
One Christmas in the 80’s Mom gave Dad a set of Golf Clubs (what was she thinking???), so out to the front lawn we all went to watch him hit is first golf ball…not knowing what to expect, until to his surprise it was an exploding golf ball! The rest is history, he and Mom became avid golfers and made many new great friends over the years while golfing at various golf courses around the lower mainland and in their travels.
Dad loved to travel and he and Mom began to spend some winters in Palm Springs….golfing, of course! They travelled all across the USA and Canada, up to Newfoundland for Atlantic Lobster!
At the age of 72, Dad discovered the world of computers and digital photography. It became a passion of his. He loved printing his own beautiful photos and proudly shared them with others, making customized calendars and cards for family members. He loved to go on photographic day trips with his buddy Jerry and took some pretty amazing pictures of nature any chance he could get, including a variety of birds that gathered around his bird feeders. He particularly loved his eagle photos.
Dad’s attitude of never looking back and having no regrets has been an inspiration to all who crossed his path. He looked so forward to enjoying his newly built workshop and deck, however that was not to be. A life well lived!
He is predeceased by his parents, 2 sisters, 1 brother, 1 grandson and 1 son-in-law. Left to mourn his passing are his wife Mary, daughter Debbie (Steve), daughter Florence (Bill), daughter Linda (Doug, deceased in 2009), son Raymond (Linda), daughter Nancy (Brent), 13 Grandchildren and 14 Great Grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the doctors and wonderful nurses at Abbotsford Hospital Cheam 2, Palliative Complex Care Unit for their special care and support during a very difficult time for our family.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Godard Felix Philien April 30 1933
July 21 2019..
Death notice for the town of: Abbotsford, Province: Colombie britanique