James Frenette

Jim was predeceased by his parents Oni and Anne Frenette, sister Anita ( Jackson), brothers Don, David, Dennis and infant sister Margaret-Anne.

Jim is survived by two daughters, Julie (Tom), and children Ashley (Robyn/Ashton), Shane and Aisline, and Kim ( Jamie) and children Alyssa and Jasmine.

He is also survived by siblings Jerry, Bob, Rick, Susan, Bonnie, Tom and Cathy and numerous inlaws, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Jim grew up in For Frances on Smith Avenue, attended St. Mary’s Catholic School and Fort Frances High School.

Jim joined the Navy in 1961 and was stationed at the Naval base in Victoria and assigned to HMS Esquimalt and was deployed to South America and on other tours.

After completing his enlistment, he was discharged in 1967 and Jim remained in Victoria and settled in, purchased and renovated a home. He worked for many years at the Empress Hotel and later purchased and operated a taxi in Victoria.

Jim later worked for a contractor brother-in-law, Ken Henson, where he learned drywalling and “chip-rock work”. (He later did some beautiful rock work for his mother on Smith Avenue; a large fl ower bed and front steps).

Around 1980, Jim moved to Kenora and lived and worked there for a time, eventually moving back to Fort Frances. He worked in plumbing, with a cousin-in-law, John Plichta. He did drywall work and “handy-work” for quite some time.

Jim also lived in Thunder Bay for a time. He worked at Zellers and also hydro-line clearing for J and D Contracting. He also put time in practicing his dry-walling skills with a contractor in Thunder Bay working as far up as Pickle Lake at the O.P.P. headquarters.

Jim returned to Fort Frances where he tried his skill at art and writing. He even travelled down East where he achieved having one of his bear characters copyrighted. “GEMiNi” began appearing on T-shirts, greeting cards, letters and other pieces of clothing, (for family and friends only). He wasn’t as successful with his stories and poems. After producing a signifi cant amount of work which he seemed to enjoy immensely, he retired from writing and pretty well all other employment for income.

It was about this time Jim adopted a Lab-cross, “Shep”. They enjoyed each other’s company for many years until the dog passed on.

He lived on Smith Avenue with his mother for a short time eventually renting a house across the street where he lived until he passed away. During the twenty some years he lived on Smith Avenue, Jim spent his summers working on gardening, both vegetable and fl owers. He helped his mother achieve “prize-winning” flower beds in her yard that were featured in the newspaper many times.

His flowers didn’t make it into the newspaper, but he seemed bent on having flowers blooming from sidewalk to the alley-way but especially the front yard. A bonus for his mother was that she would look out her front window and enjoy his efforts every day!

As time passed Jim became less mobile. He received a scooter from his family which gave him back his independence and a chance to continue with his social life. Jim will be missed by a lot of people, family and friends.

A “Celebration of Life” will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion at 1:00pm, August 30th (The 30th would have been Jim’s 74th birthday.)

Internment will take place following the service at Holy Cross cemetery in Fort Frances.