Bertrand J. Rossignol

Bertrand Joseph Rossignol, age 81, passed away on Thursday, March 5, 2009, in San Antonio, Texas. He was born in Frenchville, Maine, on May 14, 1927, to Leo and Yvonne Cyr Rossignol. He grew up on the family farm during the difficult years of the Depression. He entered the U.S. Army in 1945, served till 1967, retired honorably, a Sergeant Major. During his first European tour, he met his wife, Antoinette Fildier, and they were wed on July 2, 1949. Together they brought up four children, living in Maryland, France, Germany and Texas. He continued working as a data processor until 1983, when he moved to Blanco, Texas. There he enjoyed many good years with Toni on the 6R Ranch. "Bert" Dad was the workingman's Renaissance man. Though his schooling was limited because of conditions on the farm, he never stopped learning about the world, and he shared his wisdom with his family and friends. He was still taking classes at ALIR when he passed away. A self-taught stonemason, he left behind examples of his craft in San Antonio, Columbus, and the Hill Country. Of course he will be missed. Loving, honest, at peace with the world, as any respected tribal elder would be, he radiated goodness incarnate, even after his debilitating accident. The oldest of six children, he is survived by his sisters, Winette Michaud, Marylyn Jaqua and Adeline Garland and his brothers, Albin and Ronald; his wife of sixty years, Toni; their four children May Rossignol Finch, Steve, James and Terry; seven grandchildren -- Hailey Finch Patton, Austin Finch, Cy and Bessie Rossignol, Brittany, Brianna and Brandy Rossignol and three step-grandchildren Misty Pohlmann, Christy McSpadden and Gary Ledbetter.