BOURBONNIERE, Philippe Joseph Armand Hector
July 24, 1942 — March 30, 2022
Philippe Bourbonniere passed away peacefully on March 30, 2022, in Kelowna, BC, at the age of 79 years.
Philippe was born and raised in Lorette, Manitoba, hunting rabbits and deer for his three sisters and mother, in his father’s absence. A devout Catholic, Philippe often went to church and served Mass as an altar boy; his cousins thought he was going for the priesthood. He spent most of his free time at his Aunt Rose’s place helping with chores around the property, and was a good companion to cousins Philip and Paul. Together, the boys spent time creating bows and arrows. He loved carving guns, knives, and swords out of wood. He was a good child, and his Aunt Rose favoured and loved him like her own son.
In 1962, his dream of flying came true, when he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force. It was then he began a fitness routine of weight lifting and bodybuilding. He spent time at camp Borden, northern Ontario, and attending advanced tech school. Between 1964 and 1966, Philippe spent 2 years in Chatham, New Brunswick, and then he went to Comox, BC. After 7 years in the Air Force he was discharged in 1969, and he settled in the Vancouver, BC area. At CPAir, he worked as a Simulator Technologist and was a leader in the simulator department. He worked for CPAir for 28 years and retired in 1997 An avid runner, Philippe ran around Stanley Park every day.
Philippe met Leslie; they went on many local adventures and had a beloved daughter, Danielle. They decided to separate and co-parent, and Philippe continued to remain a committed and wonderful father. He introduced Danielle to his passion for the world of nature, sharing it together from there on. He replaced running with a bicycle, cycling from Burnaby, BC to his workplace in Richmond, BC regularly.
Once he moved to Richmond, Philippe met and fell in love with his lifelong partner, Siony. They got married in the Philippines in 1994 and in 1997 they moved to Kelowna, BC. Together they had many worldly travels and frequented the Philippines throughout their 28 years of marriage, until present. In Kelowna, he had a 19-year career as a Simulator Technologist with Ted Banser for Kelowna Flightcraft, and he was able to retire in 2016.
Throughout this time and into Philippe’s retirement, he continued with weight lifting at home, cycling, nature explorations, and he had an affinity for home electrical and mechanical projects/creations/modifications. He was always like that, and described himself as a young boy, “I was inventive, creative. As a result, it was head to hands. I was in my own world, and it was difficult to sleep at night because my mind was so active”. His mind was always working on his contraptions, and he always had both home and workplace projects on the go. He was an extremely organized man, who was always well-dressed, loved his cars, and appeared reserved but was known for being quite entertaining, witty, and charming. He was a patient and well-balanced man, always aspiring for optimal health.
Left to treasure his memory are his wife Siony Bourbonniere; his daughter Danielle Marie Annette Bourbonniere Davis; his sister Joanne Bourbonniere; and the many cousins that Philippe was very close to. He was predeceased by his parents, Hector & Annette Bourbonniere and two of his sisters, Suzanne & Estelle.
We all know that he lived an extra year and 2 months because of Siony’s absolute love and care for him. We’d like to thank Dr. Michael Wolf for making Philippe feel the special man that he was to us. And, we would also like to thank the palliative and home care staff as well, for their compassion and care.
The world seems empty without you, Dad. But I know you’re everywhere.
A Funeral Mass will be held SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2022, at 11:00 AM, at ST. EDWARDS CATHOLIC CHURCH, 11123 Okanagan Centre Rd East, Lake Country, BC. with Father Cerlouie Jimenez officiating. Interment will follow at Notre Dame Parish in Lorette, Manitoba at a later date. If you are unable to attend in person, please join the family online by Livestream at the time of the service. Livestream link will be available prior to service.
Memorial donations may be sent to the Canadian Red Cross or to KGH Foundation Palliative Care.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of BOURBONNIERE Philippe Joseph Armand Hector July 24 1942 — March 30 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Kelowna, Province: Colombie britanique