Browse the obituary of residing in the province of Nouveau-Brunswick for funeral details
Our father and husband, Richard Joseph LeBlanc, lived life on
his own terms and on March 26, 2024 surrounded by family his spirit
left this earth.
He took his first breath on November 1, 1927 in a country
house in a small farming village of Kent County New Brunswick. He was
the second son and fourth child born to Amanda Cormier and
Néri LeBlanc, in a family that would eventually include 14
children.
It is without a doubt his mother Amanda who had the most
profound impact on his life. She devoted herself completely to the
well-being of her children. Even as a child, Richard was sensitive to
his mother’s hardships providing for a growing family with
little money, living off the farm and seasonal garden. He would often
share how his mother was able to make him and his siblings feel safe
and loved despite difficult circumstances. As an adult, he did his
best to support his mother in any way that he could.
His father worked in Moncton to provide for an ever-growing
family. Richard left school in grade 5 to then take up farming duties
out of necessity. He would also do odd jobs that paid pennies per day.
At the age of 15, he obtained temporary work with CNR installing rail.
In 1949, as work became sporadic, and with few other opportunities,
Richard left for Toronto, speaking little English and with a few
dollars in his pockets. He started his new life renting a room in a
boarding house on King Street West. He found employment with CNR and
spoke fondly of his co-workers, the friendships developed and his
first exposure to people of other cultures. Up to a few months prior
to his death, he spoke proudly of the words of Ukrainian he learned
all those many years ago.
He had started dating our mother Bernadette prior to leaving
NB, and she eventually joined him and quickly found a job herself.
They married in June 1954 at the Paroisse du Sacré Coeur in
downtown Toronto. The lustre of Toronto started to wear off for
Richard and he was longing to return to NB. When our mother became
pregnant with their first child in 1957, they decided it was time to
make the move.
Our parents promptly converted their first home in Moncton
into one that could accommodate boarders, and help pay expenses. Our
mother cooked meals and our father helped with cleaning duties and did
the laundry, a division of household chores that would continue until
they were well into their eighties.
While Richard’s trade at CN provided for the
family, he longed to be his own boss and master of his own destiny. He
tried his hand at home renovations and was approached by local
industrialist, Reuben Cohen, to take on a contracting job. While proud
of this offer, he declined wanting to explore other opportunities.
With the help of a family contact, he found his life passion. He and
our mother established Richard’s Furniture Ltd on St. George
Street across from Aberdeen School. They eventually moved the business
to St-Antoine de Kent. With time, the business grew, and he credited
the success to their combined talents, our mother’s business
acumen and his efforts in providing quality products with excellent
customer service. It was a source of great pride to him that former
customers would share stories of furniture pieces still in use decades
after having been bought.
Our parents eventually built their dream home on a 40-acre
lot and integrated the business on their property. The large home was
the perfect setting for family gatherings with extended family. As
children we have many fond memories of holidays spent with relatives,
eating elaborate meals prepared by our mother with our father charged
with clean-up duties. They took great pride in this home and Richard
spent countless hours working on the grounds and trimming the trees to
his exacting standards.
The business eventually sold to an extended family member and
Richard worked part-time to ease into retirement. The large home in
the country was sold and they moved to Moncton, setting the stage for
what our father described as one the happiest periods of his
life.
In 2002 and 2005 were born our parents’ only
grandchildren, Charles and Claire. They added a spark to our
parents’ lives, and they reveled in being an active presence
as the babies grew to the adults they are today. There are lots of
family stories of Richard providing an endless supply of Oreo cookies,
ice cream and his specialty, toasts with special
toppings.
Special memories were made at two family homes in Shediac
Bridge where countless meals were served to the immediate family and
often to members of the extended family. Richard often remarked how
lucky we were that family members liked to spend time together with
endless laughter and teasing.
Richard often spoke of having been born at the wrong time,
and how missed educational opportunities impacted his life. We would
remind him of his grit and determination, and the success achieved in
building a business from scratch that provided for the family. We were
encouraged to pursue our studies and Richard took great pride in the
fact that the three of us completed post-secondary
education.
Richard took an interest in local and national politics. He
wrote many letters to the editor of the Times and Transcript with the
help of family, guided by his incredible memory of past events. He
kept a scrap book with the published letters, the highlight being when
his contribution made “the Letter of the Day.” His interest
in politics extended beyond writing opinion pieces. He spoke fondly of
Dalton Camp, a fellow New Brunswicker and a journalist, politician,
political strategist and commentator. Had educational opportunities
permitted, our father would have loved to be in a position to
influence a government’s direction, given his personal
experience with poverty and hardship. While Richard may not have been
familiar with the term political strategist, he would have excelled at
the role.
As with any other human, Richard had his share of faults and
shortcomings, however this is a time to marvel at a life well-lived.
He was born with no advantage other than a work ethic that knew no
bounds, a determination to make something of his life and a soft heart
for those facing life’s challenges. To quote Ralph Waldo
Emerson, “… to know even one life has breathed easier
because you have lived … this is to have succeeded!”
In this context, Richard’s life can be
celebrated.
Survived by his loving wife of almost 70 years, Bernadette
Léger; three daughters: Lucille (Gérard
Arsenault), Lise (Roch Lavoie) and Linda (François Emond);
his two adored grandchildren, Charles Richard and Claire
Hélène.
Survived by his brothers: Walter, Donald (Claudette), and
Clarence (Florence); his sisters: Eugenie (late Angus),
Géraldine (John) and Fernande (Arthur); sister-in-law
Jeannette LeBlanc, brother-in-law Edouard LeBlanc, and several nieces
and nephews.
Also survived by sisters-in-law: Anita Melanson (late Louis),
Félexine Léger (late Ulysse), Fernande Drisdelle
(late Laurie) and Thérèse Pollock (late Bill);
and several nieces and nephews.
Predeceased by his parents, Amanda and Néri;
siblings: infant Aline, Sarah (late Edgar), Normand (late Yvette),
Gerald, Rosaline (late Albert), Imelda and Juliette (late Harold);
sister-in-law Stella Léger (late Yvon) and brother-in-law
Ulysse.
The family will receive condolences at Frenette Funeral and
Cremation Centre, 88 Church Street, Moncton (506-858-1900) from where
the funeral service will be celebrated on Saturday April 6 at 11 am.
Visiting hours are Friday from 2 to 4 pm and 7 to 9 pm only. The
funeral service will be streamed live; to view the funeral, go to
Richard’s obituary on the Frenette website. In lieu of
flowers, in memory of Richard, donations may be made to the CHU Dumont
Foundation or Moncton Headstart.
Words of comfort and donations may
be made at www.frenettefuneralhome.com
1927 2024
Death notice for the town of: Shediac, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick
death notice Richard J LeBlanc 1927 2024
obituaries notice Richard J LeBlanc 1927 2024
We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Richard J LeBlanc 1927 2024 and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.