Ernest Joseph Caouette

Ernest Joseph Caouette was a New Year's baby, born in Edmonton in 1933. He was known fondly to everyone as Ernie, and grew up on a farm in Vimy, Alberta. He was the middle son of five children, including two older brothers, a younger brother and a younger sister. He had a strict chore routine growing up, getting up at 6am every day to make sure that the cows were milked and the animals were fed before he went to school. Ernie enjoyed sports like baseball and hockey, and was an enthusiastic participant in the 4H club as a teen. He won a prize for Barley Growing and was awarded a week long stay in dorms in Vermillion with 200 other lucky winners. After the 8th grade, Ernie left school and started helping on the farm full time. He enjoyed being active, and still made time to play hockey games against rivals in Legal.

One October evening in 1954, he met the future love of his life, Mary (Hectorine) Caouette, at a local dance. They saved and planned for their wedding, and were married in 1955. Together, he and Mary bought land across the road from his parents and built their first house and farm there. Their family grew quickly, welcoming three daughters: Rita in 1956, Doris in 1957, and Shirley in 1960. In 1964, the Ernie, his wife and three little girls left the farm for a life in the city of St. Albert. In 1965, they completed their family with the birth of their last child Dan.

Ernie worked at the Weldwood Plywood Plant for a time before switching careers and working for the City of St. Albert. He started doing maintenance with the Parks and Rec department and eventually became foreman. The men who worked for him remembered that Ernie rarely got mad, but he was occasionally "disappointed" when the crew wasn't trying their best.

The years passed and Ernie's family grew up, enjoying their life in St. Albert. His children eventually started families of their own, and Ernie was a proud grandpa to 9 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Throughout his life, Ernie continued to be a baseball and hockey fan, cheering on his beloved Blue Jays and Flames whenever he could. He maintained his green thumb, and each year nurtured a beautiful garden into bloom with his wife. He enjoyed travel, camping trips, Bingo and big bowls of ice cream.

In 2018, Ernie and Mary left their house in St. Albert and moved into a smaller, more manageable home. He became a widower in 2019, moved again to Chartwell in St. Alberta and slowly began a new chapter of his life, going for coffee with friends and enjoying activities with the residents and friends that he made in his new home. He was a familiar favourite at St. Louis Ribs, and no one who met Ernie stayed a stranger for very long. In 2023, he proudly attended his 90th birthday party, and enjoyed meeting and mingling with all of his family and friends. Ernie was known for his warmth and kindness, and he made a point to always be up to date on the events in the lives of his loved ones.

On September 25, Ernie woke up early one last time to join his wife Mary in heaven. He will be missed by everyone that met him, and loved forever by his family and friends.

Ernie will be forever remembered by his children Rita (Dave), Doris (Gord), Shirley (Ken), Daniel (Chantal); nine grandchildren Jennifer (Craig), Carolyn (Mike), Kim (Nathan), Heather (Bryan), Chris (Michelle), Laurie (David), Amanda (Lewis), Josh (Carlee) and Kenton; 13 great-grandchildren Aiden, Grayson, Andy, Alyssa, Jonathan, Alistair, Theo, Elliot, Jordyn, Lincoln, Clair, Ginney, Kathlyn. He will be fondly missed by his sister Mary Ann (Sabourin) and brother Edward as well as numerous other extended family and friends. Ernie was predeceased by his wife Mary Hectorine (nee Houle) in 2019, parents Gabriel and Teresa(nee Kramps) and brothers Leo and Roland, brother-in-law Roger and great-grandson Zachary.

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the excellent staff at Chartwell St. Albert and Foyer Lacombe for their special care and attention given to Ernie. It was so greatly appreciated.