Gerard’s Obituary
Gérard Béland died peacefully on Sunday, November 21 2021, at the Edmonton General Hospice five days shy of his 88th birthday. Gérard was born on November 26, 1933, in McLennan, Alberta, the fourth of five children to Blanche Gravel and Jean-Baptiste Béland, pioneers who came to Donnelly, Alberta from Québec seeking the promise of a new land of opportunities. From Donnelly, Alberta, he attended and boarded at Collège St. Jean in Edmonton for his secondary school and completed “le cours classique,” a liberal arts diploma. While studying in Edmonton he met Lilian Paul who was studying Education at the University of Alberta. They married in 1960 and settled in Donnelly where Gerry owned and operated the general store and Lilian taught at George P. Vanier High School. He later purchased the general store in McLennan and the family moved there in 1973. Gerry was truly a blend of his father’s pioneering and entrepreneurial spirit and his mother’s “joie de vivre”. Gerry was loved by everyone who knew him for his contagious warmth and smile. He was known for his generosity; he was always helping others. He volunteered as a parish councilor, an Elk and as a member of the Golden Age Club. In his final days, he frequently expressed gratitude for his good fortune and commented on the things he was happiest about – the agricultural land he opened, the joy his customers brought him and his innumerable travel adventures, which took him to every continent, including Antarctica. More than anything he had a deep love for his wife, Lilian, and family and a strong faith that anchored him in life and in death.
He is survived by his daughters, Margaux (Peter Engelmann), Suzanne (Paul Preston), Jacqueline (Paul Bennett) and his son, Jean (Judy Garber), as well as eight grand-children, Nathaniel, Olivier and Camille/Toni Preston, Sébastien and Alexandre Engelmann, Dominique and Nicolas Bennett, and Isaac Béland. He is survived by his brother, Victor (Joan) and sister-in-law, Mary and 11 nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his wife, Lilian, and siblings, Yvette, Marcel and Roger (and Jeanette), nephew Paul and niece Louise. The funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, December 23, 2021, at the Cathedral Jean Baptiste in McLennan. Due to COVID this service will be by invitation only.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations, in Gérard’s memory, to either a charity of your choice or the Edmonton – Wings of Providence Second Stage Shelter (P.O. Box 32141, Edmonton, T6K 4C2), which provides shelter and support to battered women.
A special thank you to the 9Y Unit at the Edmonton General Hospice who so graciously cared for both our parents in their final months.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Gerard Philippe Beland November 26 1933 November 21 2021..
Chapel of Memories Funeral Homes & Crematorium
Death notice for the town of: Peace River, Province: Alberta