Dalton Leonard Gadbois

Dalton Gadbois, born December 30, 1936 passed away peacefully on July 11, 2016, exactly 5 weeks after his beloved wife, Shirley. Dalton grew up in Apple Hill and went to Alexandria High School. He married Shirley Urquhart (of Maxville, Ontario) on July 16, 1956. They had seven children. Sharon and Sherry were born first, followed by Trent 13 months later, Shelley two years after that, and Tracy two years later. Shannon and Troy followed over the next 9 years. Dad was proud of his big family and loved to talk about the kids and his grandkids.

Through the years, mom and dad worked together on the executive of the SD&G Highland Dance Association and they were founding members of the St. Andrews Highland Dance Association. Dad also coached many teams on which his kids played (soccer, lacrosse, hockey) and he ran the Gadbois-Branch hockey school with his friend Don Branch. Dad was very involved in Cornwall Township hockey and was an active hockey coach and referee. He worked for years with the Ottawa and District Minor Hockey Association, and he was the referee-in-chief for the Air Canada Cup in Cornwall in 1980. Dad loved all sports but he particularly loved hockey. A proud moment for him arose when Newall Brown invited him to see the Stanley Cup following the NHL Anaheim Duck’s Stanley Cup win in 2007. It was a kindness that meant so much to dad and to his family. Dad received recognition for his contributions to sport in Cornwall and area but he got the greatest enjoyment out of visiting with the men he had once coached as boys.

Dad also loved his job. He loved working outside and he loved chatting with coworkers throughout the day. In February 1993 he had a setback when he underwent triple bypass surgery. But, typical of our dad, he met the challenge head-on. Since it was too cold during his recovery to exercise outside, he began by walking around the dining room table to build up his strength. Soon he was outside walking again and back at work. Though he loved his work with Hydro and had an opportunity to build the St. Lawrence Seaway, he loved working as a surveyor best. He loved the exercise, the calculations, and the friendships he made with his co-workers.

Unfortunately, with age dad stopped enjoying being out in the cold for work. He then began to have problems with his memory. Having suffered a series of mini strokes, the man who was a human GPS and could find his way in any city after only being there once, was now having problems finding his way around. After years of holidays with the family, after numerous visits to see kids and grandkids up north and out west, the travelling had to stop. After years of enjoying his grandchildren, dad began to struggle with dementia. Mom’s passing on June 6th this year, was the final straw. He was admitted to hospital exactly three weeks after mom was admitted. While in hospital, he rallied sufficiently from three heart attacks to have a permanent pacemaker installed. On Monday July 11th, at the age of 79, en route from the Ottawa Heart Institute to the Cornwall Hospital, he died peacefully. He will now be with his beloved Shirley in time for their 60th wedding anniversary.

Dad, we are proud of the example you gave us through your demonstrations of fierce loyalty, courage, strength, and dogged determination. Indeed, you were probably the strongest and most determined man we will ever know. We will carry the memories of all these things you taught us for the remainder of our lives. Rest easy now, Dad. Mom was waiting for you.

In addition to Shirley, his life partner of almost 60 years, Dalton was predeceased by his beloved mother, Lillian (Towne), his beloved Maggie Grant, his father, Austin, and his brother, Michael. Left to mourn his passing but to celebrate his life and carry on in his very strong memory are his sister, Betty Rankin, his children Sherry, Sharon, Trent (Debbie), Shelley (Larry), Tracy (Lise), Shannon (Dean), Troy (Lisa), and his grandchildren Tristan, Samantha, Trent, Liane, Madison, Gabrielle, Teisha, Marshall, Annilia, and Elzie.

Once again, we must thank the many caring individuals who have supported our family following the loss of our loving parents. You have helped us more than we can express through your presence, prayers, wisdom, and words of encouragement and remembrance. Importantly, we must also extend our heartfelt thanks for the exceptional work of the emergency room and ICU nurses, doctors, and support staff at Cornwall Community Hospital. Many of you cared for both mom and dad. All of you showed us that our Canadian health care system is second to none, and that compassion and professionalism are in large supply in Cornwall. A special thanks must be extended to the staff at the Ontario Heart Institute for taking care of our dad in his final hours and to the young men who were with him at his passing. Finally, Father Kelvin, thank you for supporting our family through mom’s passing and through dad’s illness. It meant a great deal to all of us that you took the time to visit dad in hospital.

Resting at Lahaie & Sullivan Cornwall Funeral Homes, West Branch, 20 Seventh Street West (613-932-8482) from 6 p.m. Sunday. Funeral Monday, July 18, 2016 for Mass of Christian Burial in Blessed Sacrament Church at 11 a.m. Interment, Notre Dame Cemetery. The family will be in attendance from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday and from 9 a.m. until time of Funeral on Monday. As expressions of sympathy, Memorial Donations to the University of Ottawa Heart Institute or the Cornwall Community Hospital Foundation would be greatly appreciated by the family.