Claude Huot

Unexpectedly and with great sadness, we announce the passing of our dear Claude, on Sunday, August 14th, 2011 at the age of 58.

He was predeceased by both of his parents who loved him greatly, Dr. Jean-Marie Huot and Lucille Davis Huot.

Missing and loving him will be his life partner, Arlene Berezuk, along with her children Crystal (Ally), Dale, and grandson Dylan. Claude will also be greatly missed by his siblings who adored him Gerard (Maria), Marie-Louise (Doug Mazur), Yvonne (Brian Tascona), Jean-Marc (Angela, Paul & Patrick) as well as his two nephews Marco Huot-Tascona and Remi Huot-Mazur. Also, Claude’s step-mother Yvette Pelltier will miss him tremendously.

Claude’s greatest joys in life were the times he spent with family & friends, always wanting nothing more than to bring a smile and laughter to everyone he knew. Claude had a passion and fervor for all he endeavored. His happiest times were shared with his many loved ones at Cass Lake during his youth, and later at his island on Shoal Lake. The beauty of nature gave him great peace. His cottage and self-proclaimed ‘labor-of-love’ brought him many years of incomparable joy. Claude forever found ways to take a boat ride around the lake, try out a new gadget, and read instruction manuals like they were the latest Best Sellers. Claude had a special knack for teaching people a little something each time they were in his presence; we are all better for having been a part of his life and are reminded of this each and every day.

For nearly 30 years, Claude was employed with Louis Riel School Division. His work, along with his colleagues, was a source of great pride. Claude valued many facets of his role in ensuring the safety of students, in implementing the most current technology for the department, and in maintaining a cohesive team.

Throughout his life, Claude took a particular interest in fostering his love and respect of nature in others. He felt Camp Stephens exemplified all the qualities that he held so dear and watched these grow through his younger brother, Jean-Marc, his nephews Marco and Remi, and most recently, Dylan who to this day is a full-participant of all Camp Stephens has to offer.

Funeral service will be held on Friday, August 19 at 1:00 pm at Green Acres Funeral Home.

At Claude’s request, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to fulfill his wishes to support Dylan’s continued camp experiences for years to come. Due to time restrictions in opening a Trust, an account has been set up for any Royal Bank location to accept donations. Transist #04627 Account # 501 3941.

Donations may also be made to the charity of your choice.

“It’s dock time…let’s go”

GREEN ACRES

Funeral Home and Cemetery

1 Green Acres Lane, Springfield (204) 222-3241

Hwy #1 East inside the Perimeter at Winnipeg

Condolences may be sent to:

www.greenacresfuneralhome.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Words from Claude's Memorial

Good morning. Like many members of the baby-boom generation, Claude had a lot of cousins. I see a number of them are here today, and I am Cousin Harold. Another of Claude’s cousins is Arthur who cannot be with us today. Cousin Art and Claude were very, very close and Arthur sent me a letter to read here this morning. The letter begins:

Dear Claude,

You are absent from me now. Why did this road turn? My heart misses your earthly presence, you Big Guy.

But, somehow I feel and realize that you still exist. I am so very thankful for you with all your simplicity, complexity, abundant opinions, and overflowing generosity. Your magnificent earthly footprint altered my life so much. Your memory exists and will forever live with gratefulness within my life.

I love you, Claude.

Your cousin,

Arthur Pratt

Arthur’s letter brings up a really important point: To be specific, it is how much Claude changed our lives. Allow me to give you just one good example.

Many of you have heard about Claude’s beloved island on Shoal Lake and all the work that he did there. What you may not know is that he started off by saving the lake. That’s right, he saved the lake.

This goes back thirty years ago. Claude discovered that a mining company was going to build a gold mine on Shoal Lake. He investigated what was happening and compared notes with his good neighbor at the lake, Helen McCullough. In response to the high risk of pollution from the proposed mine’s tailings pond, they founded the Water Protection Group to safeguard our drinking water.

They took on the mining company. They took on the Province of Ontario. They chided the Province of Manitoba. And they enlisted the support of the City of Winnipeg. Then they orchestrated a masterful media campaign.

Today, 45% of Winnipeg households still turn on their faucets to drink cold, clean and clear Shoal Lake water.

So, from now on and for the rest of your lives, every time you turn on the tap, you will think of Claude. I think that my cousin was a hero and that’s how he deserves to be remembered.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few thoughts about Claude…

Early Sunday morning, Claude looked out the window over the river and at the Provencher Bridge towards our home and made the comment “Wow, isn’t it a beautiful day….I am seeing the world from a whole different side” 30 minutes later he truly was seeing the world from a different side.

The Lake was his passion; he worked endless hours (in the past along with his wife) for many many years to make it what it is today. He was always proud and happy to take guests on a walking tour around the island and show them trees that he had planted 30 years ago, and why some were only 3 feet high, having their growth stunted being shaded by taller trees, while others he planted soared to great heights as the sun and rain had spurred their growth.

Claude drove his “Big Thirst” boat for the last time on July 30th, the boat that was his fathers and that Claude learned to operate when he was only 12 years old. Every time he stepped foot into that boat a smile came across his face.

Claude, Arlene and family would work hard from early morning till mid afternoon on projects that required attention, repairing the dock, building a new pathway, planting and keeping up a large garden, and flowers, cutting and splitting firewood, painting, decorating, and general upkeep of the island.

Then in the early afternoon, Claude would announce…we’ve worked long and hard enough……”Its dock time…..Lets go”

And with a glass of ice and a pitcher of Sangria we sat under the umbrella on the dock taking in the beauty and serenity of Touchstone Island.

Claude considered Arlene’s family his family and treated them with respect and admiration and loved them dearly, and was proud to introduce them as his family.

Claude had a passion for his work, for pupil transportation, safety of students, and transporting special needs children. He respected and was proud of his staff and bus drivers and admired them for the duties they performed each and every day. He looked forward to going to Maginot Shop. And by the way, Claude would think having the school bus parked outside today is the best!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Touchstone Island “Pierre de touché”

A Touchstone is a black flint -like stone that is used to test the purity and quality of gold and silver, both of which are found on this island.

Touchstone ……Purity, quality….the essential part of our lives

This Island is our Touchstone, a place that is pure and it speaks of quality and values, and principles. We come here so that we may reset our standards, and to be content with what is important in life, and it leaves us with the determination of finding out what we should indeed be.

It speaks of people

It speaks of earth

It speaks of determining of what we should be

It makes things clear and clarifies

It fulfills our aspirations and dreams

La pierre de touche (Touchstone) is, in a figurative sense, the essential element that lets you test the value of something.

To free yourself from the tyranny of the past, live more fully in the present. And come to the calm, joyful place where intuition, creativity, and wisdom live and breathe.

Claude Huot