Joseph Fernand Pelletier

It is with great sadness that the family of Joseph Fernand Pelletier announces his passing, at age 73, surrounded by family, on May 6, 2022 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Joseph, better known as ‘Fern’, was born on April 20, 1949 in St Anne, New Brunswick to Camille and Irma Pelletier. He was the first of 17 children born in the family.

Fern chose to quit school around age 15 and began helping his father with logging full-time in order to help care for the family. Fern worked with various uncles in Conneticut and New Brunswick. He proudly bought himself a road runner sport car and enjoyed the speed! Tragically, while logging with a cousin in Conneticut, a tree fell on and killed his cousin. This tradgedy affected Fern greatly. Afterwards, he began his lengthy logging career in Canada. He met his first wife (Susan) in Flinflon, Manitoba and they relocated to Fort Frances, Ontario where his daughter (Kate) was born. Fern relocated to Ear Falls, Ontario around 1995 and continued his logging business. Family members from both the United States and Canada came to work with him in addition to the many people he employed from the local area. A couple years before retirement he stopped working in order to have knee replacements, effectively retiring. During this time, he spent much of his time fishing the river in Ear Falls with his good friend Carl. In 2009 Fern met Martha Breceda, the love of his life. He began spending most of his time in Mexico with Martha. They travelled frequently around Mexico to Durango, Mazatlan, and Guadalajara. They also travelled to New Brunswick, B.C, Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario to visit family and friends. During his visits to Ontario, he spent much of his time fishing with his close friend Robin. He also enjoyed taking his granddaughter (Sloan) out for a Dairy Queen lunch date. Fern’s suitcase was always packed full of wardrobe choices for Sloan’s outings.

Fern is survived by his wife Martha Breceda of Queretaro, Mexico; his daughter Kate Baird (Nathan) or Devlin, Ontario and his granddaughter Sloan Baird. Also surviving him is his mother Irma Pelletier, his siblings Pascal (Laurette) of Sanford Maine, Gilles of Oklahoma, Michel (Jacqueline) of Red Deer, Alberta, Antoinette Richard (Michel) or St. Anne, New Brunswick, Jean-Marie (Diane) of St. Anne, New Brunswick, Bernard (Pauline) of Bristol, Connecticut, Maurice of St Anne, New Brunswick, Andre of Edmundston, New Brunswick, Jeannot of Hartford, Connecticut, Francoise Lachance (Eric) of Hartford, Connecticut, Aurore Guerrette (Roland) of St. Anne, New Brunswick, Parise Pelletier (Bruce Baker) of Bakerbrook, New Brunswick, Laurette Ringuette (Daniel) of Grand-Sault, New Brunswick, and Jacqueline Dube (Gerard) of Notre Dame de Lourdes, New Brunswick, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Fern was predeceased by his father Camille, as well as sibling Sara and Olidor.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 20, 2022 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Fort Frances, ON.