Mr. Georges Roberge

Georges Roberge was the oldest son of Alphonse Roberge and Suzette Tremblay. Being the first born of a family of 11 siblings, he learned early on the values of sharing, love, and hard work.

At a very young age, Georges helped his father on the family farm, and in his teens he started working in the bush, first cutting wood and then later working as a mill sawyer.

In 1958, on a walk in his grandfather’s neighbourhood, Georges met a pretty little school teacher named Lise. They married in 1959 and soon started a family that grew in each of the different provinces they lived. Their first child, Serge, was born in Quebec in 1960. Soon after, Georges, Lise, and their infant son headed west to Alberta in an old car and with just a little money in their pockets. They arrived in the small, northern Alberta farming community of St. Isidore where Jules and Angeline Fortin and several other French Canadian families were homesteading. While there, Georges and Lise’s first daughter, Christine, was born in 1962, followed soon after by their second son Daniel in 1963. The family made a move to Chetwynd B.C., where Georges worked in a sawmill. After a particularly cold Chetwynd winter, they headed to Vancouver Island for a holiday. They fell in love with the sheer beauty and mild climate of the Comox Valley, and knew immediately that this would be their new home. George and Lise moved to Union Bay, and soon after they welcomed their second daughter Diane in 1966. They then settled in Cumberland where their last daughter Michelle was born in 1975. In 1991, Georges and Lise left the view of the mountains in Cumberland for a view of the ocean in Royston.

On the Island, Georges continued to work in the forest industry. He worked 22 years in Gold River for Tahsis Company as a truck driver and a loader operator. His weekends and holidays away from work were filled with activities that Georges enjoyed: hunting, fishing, camping, and spending time with family and friends talking, laughing, playing cards, and generally having a good time. George will always be remembered for his love of telling or hearing a good story, for his hearty laugh, and his “joie de vivre.” He was a passionate Montreal Canadians fan who seldom missed a game on Saturday nights. In his quieter times, Georges always enjoyed a good classic western on T.V. or in the pages of a Louis L’Amour novel. George also occupied himself with jobs that needed doing and was often found in his shop monkey-wrenching. Half the time, he wasn’t allowed back in the house because he was covered in grease, grime, dust and filings.

George was a self-taught man with a creative and innovative mind. He could be counted on to fix most anything for his family and friends. As time progressed, Georges’ and Lises’ children grew, married, and began families of their own. At this point in his life, Georges became known as “Grandpapa“. He was a proud and affectionate grandpapa to each of his fifteen grandchildren. After his retirement in 1995, Georges was able to spend even more time with his grandchildren, and doing the things he loved, especially fishing and camping.

Georges Roberge was an honest, caring, dedicated family man, and a life-long hard worker. He was also a good friend to many, always willing to help someone out or share a laugh. Georges Roberge had a big heart. He will always be remembered with love and affection by his family and friends.

OBITUARY

Georges Roberge

July 5, 1934 - January 6, 2009

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our husband, ather and grand-papa Georges Roberge. Mourning his loss are Lise, his loving wife of 49 years, his children, Serge (Kelly), Christine (Brent), Daniel (Michelle), Diane (Richard) and Michelle (Justus) and his grandchildren Erica, Nicole, Denise, Shaun, Caleb, Sophie, Jacob, Daniel, Joseph, Madison, Louis, Kate, Penelope, Simon and Olive. Also grieving are his brothers Richard (Paulette), Rene (Denise), Gilles (Florence) and Michel (Sonia) of Quebec. Georges leaves behind many brother- and sister-in laws, nieces, nephews and cousins from Quebec and Alberta. He was predeceased by his father Alphonse, his mother Suzette, six brothers and his only sister Rachel.

Georges started working in the bush in the Lac St. Jean region of Quebec when he was a teenager. He married Lise in 1959 and within a few years headed west with his young family. After working and living in St. Isadore, Alberta and Chetwyne, BC, he headed to the Island where he and Lise enjoyed the ocean, mountains, forests, and mild climate. Settling in Cumberland, Georges continued working in the forest and spent 22 years orking in Gold River for Tahsis Logging Co.

Georges always loved camping and being on the water fishing. He also spent many enjoyable hours playing cards or working in his shop. In his retirement, "Silvertop" was able to spend more time camping with family and taking fishing trips with his good friend Leo. Georges was known and will be remembered for his friendliness, his joking, and his contagious laughter. He will always be "a-frien'-a-mine".

A Catholic service will take place at 10:30 am on Saturday, January 10, 2009 at Christ the King Church in Courtenay with a reception to follow. For those who wish, a donation in his memory may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.