Bernard Cecil Paul Cousineau

Bernard Cecil Paul Cousineau, 71, of 550 Osborne Street, Fort Frances, Ont., passed away peacefully with his family at his side on Friday, March 26, 2010 at Rainycrest Home for the Aged in Fort Frances.

Bernard was born on Friday, April 29, 1938 in Fort Frances at O’Donnell’s Hospital to the late William D. and Marie L. (Roy) Cousineau.

Bernard spent his childhood in Fort Frances and attended St. Mary’s School. He graduated from elementary school on June 22, 1952 and received an award for Sports and Sportsmanship. In September of that same year, Bernard started secondary school at Fort Frances High. During his high school years, besides devoting his time to school work, he played football and hockey. His considerable ability was recognized with an athletic pin and a Most Valuable Hockey Player Trophy for the 1955 – 1956 Juvenile Hockey season. Bernard even attended an Ontario athletic leadership camp outside of Toronto for two weeks from August 1-17 in 1955. Bernard graduated from high school on September 1, 1956.

On October 1, 1956, Bernard started his post secondary studies at the University of Minnesota – Duluth. While attending U.M.D., Bernard earned a hockey scholarship and became a co-captain and a leading point maker for his team. He started as a left winger and later became an assistant coach in 1960. Bernard received four letters. Bernard was a member of the Newman and “M” clubs. He was also a member of the Sigma Tau Kappa social fraternity. On June 9, 1961, Bernard graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education with a geography major and a social science minor. In September 1961, Bernard started teaching at Hermantown High School. He also coached the Hermantown High School’s hockey team.

On March 7, 1959, Bernard married Margaret Louise Mathieu, daughter of Thomas Shevlin and Beatrice Margaret (Miller) Mathieu, in Fort Frances at St. Mary’s Church. Three children would be born to the couple while in Duluth –Tom, Paul and Mary.

On June 29, 1967, the couple returned to Fort Frances when Bernard accepted a position with the Fort Frances High School. He began teaching at the school in September, 1967. Four more children would be born in Fort Frances – John, Bernard, Anne and Betsy. Bernard spent most of his career teaching Geography to Grade 10 and Grade 12 students and even became assistant head of his department. Bernard supplemented his income by becoming a certified Driver Training Instructor on March 2, 1981. He taught students how to drive after school, during his lunch hour and on Saturday mornings.

In 1970, with all of his children members of the Fort Frances Aquanauts, Bernard became a certified official of the Canadian Amateur Swimming Association (CASA). Over the years, he regularly volunteered to help run swim meets and time trials both locally and regionally. He trained to become a timer, a stroke and turn judge, a starter, a marshal, a referee and even a heat official. He later became a Master Official for CASA and ran level 1, 2 and 3 clinics for swim officials. In 1982, Bernard was asked to volunteer at the Canada Summer Games and travelled to Thunder Bay to officiate swimming competitions.

In 1989, Bernard and Margaret divorced.

On June 26, 1993, Bernard married Barbara Anne (Sumner) Forrester, daughter of Murray B. and Eileen Sumner at Knox United Church in Fort Frances. Together, the couple enjoyed time with family, grandchildren and friends. They also enjoyed travelling during the winter to sunny destinations like Florida, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Panama.

Before retiring from teaching, Bernard became involved in the student outreach TAG (or Towards Alternative Goals) program offered through the Fort Frances High School. He retired in December of 1997.

Bernard enjoyed many hobbies. He liked sanding and varnishing furniture, barbecuing, gardening, skating, fishing, attending hockey and swimming events, collecting trains and coins and telling tall tales. Bernard was an enthusiastic member of the Knights of Columbus. He spent many years as the recording secretary of the group.

Bernard was predeceased by one twin son, Bernard Francis, who passed away in infancy on Oct. 28, 1968, one step- son, Scott M. Forrester on Sept 5, 2008; his father, William D. on Feb. 6, 1953, his mother, Marie L. on Dec. 27, 1972, his brothers, Robert L. Cousineau on Aug. 2, 2000, Leon J. B. Cousineau on Jan. 14, 1945, James A. Cousineau on June 20, 1989 and sisters, Joan M. P.(Cousineau) Boileau on Dec. 12, 1963 and Rose-Marie B. (Cousineau) DeGagné on Nov. 20, 1993 and his former spouse, Margaret L. (Mathieu) Cousineau on Jan. 30, 2010. Bernard was also predeceased by his sister-in-law, Marion F. (Walker) Cousineau on Jan. 21, 1985 and brother-in-law, Louis C. Boileau on March 25, 1999.

Bernard is survived by his wife, Barbara A. (Sumner) Forrester-Cousineau of Fort Frances, six children, Thomas R. Cousineau and wife, Susan S., and Paul W. Cousineau and wife, Lisa A., all of Fort Frances, Ont., Mary M. and husband, Scott R. Knutson, of Eagan, Mn., John S. Cousineau of Fort Frances, Ont., Anne L. Cousineau of Calgary, Alta., and Elizabeth B. “Betsy” and husband, Tom A. Neutgens, of Otsego, Mn.; nine grandchildren, Jessica, Donovan, and Chandler Cousineau, Andrew, Daniel, and Katelyn Knutson, and Nicole, Dominic, and Nicholas Neutgens and one step granddaughter, Taylor Forrester of Thunder Bay, Ontario. Also surviving are three brothers, Roy D. and wife, Doris E. (Casselman) Cousineau of Sacramento, CA, Louis E. Cousineau and Raymond M. and wife Helen E. (Kellar) Cousineau of Fort Frances, his father-in-law, Murray B. Sumner and wife Dorothy H. Harvey of London, brother-in-law, Denis A. DeGagné and wife, Yvonne of Thunder Bay and his sisters-in-law, Virginia L. (Terry) Cousineau of Thunder Bay and Brenda R.(Sumner) Heath and husband Gordon of Kanata and numerous nieces and nephews.

Cremation will take place at Rainy River Cremation Services in International Falls, Mn.

A memorial mass to celebrate Bernard’s life will be held Wed. March 31, 2010 at 1 p.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Fort Frances. Fr. Francis Pudicherry will be officiating the service with the Knights of Columbus providing an honour guard.

Interment will take place at a later date.

Friends may visit with family on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 from 6:30-8 p.m. at Green Funeral Home in Fort Frances with parish prayers being offered at 7 p.m. The Knights of Columbus will be leading a rosary.

The honourary pallbearers will be Bernard’s brothers, Louis and Raymond Cousineau and friends, Jim Brow, Bruce Caldwell and Lee Stinson.

Should family and friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society, P.O. Box 444, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8; The Alzheimer Society of Kenora/Rainy River District, Box 837, Kenora, Ont., P9A 4B5; The Muskie Blueline Club c/o J. Spence, 936 Russell Bay, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3N9 or c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8.

Online condolences may be offered at www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com