Robert Nantel

Mr. Robert Nantel was born October 30, 1930. He passed away peacefully on August 30, 2000 from a long battle with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. His wife always told him he was a self-made man in everything he did.He was the owner of a mobile mechanic company that serviced commercial vehicles. He worked

until he was forced to sell the business due to his illness. Prior to living in the US, he worked for CN (Canadian National) railroad in finance. A perk with CN was taking his family of young children on overnight train rides sleeping in private cabins.

His last words expressed his worry leaving behind the love of his life, his wife Thérèse Nantel. His last wish was for Thérèse to live with their oldest daughter. In addition to his wife, Robert Nantel leaves behind five children: Marc, Carl, Pearl, Jean and Anne along with their spouses. He had nine grandchildren: Marco, Karin, Michael, Aimee, Laura, Robert, Joe, Kayleigh and McKenzie. He also left behind several great grandchildren, sisters and brothers.

Mr. Nantel enjoyed his life fully. He especially loved spending time with his wife and family. In his later years, he enjoyed riding his bike and going for walks with anyone who would meet him. When he lived in Canada, in his earlier years, he had a ritual, after dinner, of going for walks around the block with his family. He loved traveling in his RV going back to Canada and visiting different states in the US. He enjoyed hunting as far back as when he was in his 30's living in Canada bringing home deer, and was a member of the Rifle Club until his death. He enjoyed going to the beach for a few hours with any of his children who would ask him to meet. Marshfield beach was a favorite quick swim while people were at work so he could avoid the crowds. When he first moved to the US, he liked going to Nantasket beach and many times was proud to show he too could stand up on a surfboard and ride the little waves. He was an enthusiast for water sports, even going on a small sunfish boat one of his children had that he always seemed to get a lot of bruises from. He once spent a winter building a rowboat, spending quality time with those who assisted building it, and refurbishing a little motor for it. He once said one of his best memories was the fun he had driving that motorized rowboat to the package store and picking up some beers. Someone would remain in the boat for his return, and they would enjoy the reward of fishing on the way back relaxing with a few beers.

In his last weeks in the hospital, he said he had great memories making igloos and ice rinks in the front yard when his children were young. He held onto memories of living close to his siblings of when he was younger and having dancing parties while they played violins and harmonicas. He and his siblings were all musically inclined and self taught. One of his favorite dances they had named 'Le Petit Bonhomme'. It always was a guarantee for laughs and fun.

He was an avid gardener taking great pride in all his fruits and vegetables. Every year, he would write down a list of seeds for one of his children to pick up for him at Spag's or anywhere there was a good deal. He always welcomed more seeds. He never could resist holding up a grandchild to reach up high and pick his grapes. It always made him smile. He loved children and animals, always taking good care of them.

In his spare time, he liked communicating on his short wave, scanners and ham radio with club members and dabbling with his electronics. He was extremely talented and creative in designing and making beautiful wood bowls, jewelry boxes, etc. He had fun engaging those who would help to nail shingles on a shed he built for his horses. He was an expert welder and designed many things to assist in his garden. He also designed and welded his own bench for lifting weights. Being an avid Canadian hockey fan, he welded a tall satellite dish to watch 'Hockey Night in Canada' on Saturday nights. His last project while in remission, two weeks before the cancer came back, was welding a cart. He never imagined his cancer could come back that easily or that fast. He said he had trouble saying no to any of his children asking for his help.

He gave back double the love and support he received no matter the cost. The love for his family was everything to him. Rest in peace sweet Robert, loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, sibling and friend who continues to look over us.