John Arnold (Arnie) Bedard

It is with sadness, gratitude, and many cherished memories that we share the passing of Arnie, who died peacefully on June 14th at the age of 102 at Ste. Anne’s Veterans Home, where he spent his last year.

Born on April 19th, 1924, in Montreal, Arnie lived a long and healthy life marked by service, dedication, love of family, and a commitment to telling it exactly as he saw it.

He proudly served in the Royal Canadian Navy during World War II, an experience that remained an important part of his life. The values of duty, commitment, and camaraderie stayed with him throughout the years.

While his service helped shape his character, family was always at the centre of his life. He met his beloved wife, Denyse, through their shared love of skiing at Mont St. Sauveur, and together they built a loving home and raised a family. Forever the avid skier, he continued to enjoy the sport into his 90’s and treasured time on the slopes with his wife, children, and eventually his grandchildren.

That same energy and determination extended beyond the ski slopes and into the home he cherished for 70 years. Handy and resourceful, he enjoyed fixing things and tackling projects. If something was broken, he would repair it; if it wasn’t broken, he might improve it anyway. A long-time resident of Rosemere, his home was a place of comfort, stability, humour, and countless family gatherings.

Whether caring for his home, supporting his family, or navigating life’s challenges, he brought the same steadfast approach to everything he did. Those who knew him will remember his discipline, integrity, independence, and honesty. He approached life with determination and resilience and remained true to himself throughout more than a century of living. He had little patience for nonsense and a talent for delivering the truth with a level of directness that family and friends came to expect. He leaves behind one last ration of his favourite Appleton’s rum and a lifetime of scribbled dividend projections in his notebooks.

In his last year, he was fortunate to be surrounded by caring people who enriched his life and supported him with kindness. The family extends heartfelt thanks to the staff on the 14th floor of St. Anne’s Veterans Home for their care, kindness, and compassion. Special thanks also go to his friend Leonora for her friendship, laughter, and companionship over this last year.

He is survived by his daughter Lesley (Carl), his son Mark (Marlene), his son-in-law Dan (Suzanne), his grandchildren Andrew, Alex, Kathryn, Gabrielle, John, Brandon, his great-grandchildren Emery, Rhea, Brooklyn, and great grandchild in heart Maddie, and many dedicated nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his wife Denyse, his daughter Janice (Dan), and his siblings Philip (Darzie), Peter (Merle) Carol (Bruce) and Audrey.

Visitation will be held on Sunday August 2nd at Guay Funeral Home (418, Boulevard Labelle, Rosemere) from 12:00 to 3:00 PM.

A private family burial will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Quebec Veterans Foundation (www.fqv-qvf.ca/).

Fair winds and following seas, Arnie. Your watch is over.