Raymond Maximiliem Joseph Cousineau

Born December 7, 1933 in Fort Frances, Ray was the 7th of 9 children born to William D. and Marie (Roy) Cousineau. Ray attended St. Mary’s School and Fort Frances High School. Following the death of his father in 1953, Ray and his brother Louis took over the Electric Bakery, later becoming the Bonnie Blue. Ray’s typical day started early at the Electric Bakery with preparing the dough and getting all of the bread out of the ovens. Once finished, he was off to his favorite place, Bears Pass, where he ran Cousineau Brothers Construction and built cabin roads, septic fields, delivered gravel, and developed his Cousineau Cove Marina. After a long day, he still had time to square dance, serve as a Cub & Scout leader, and be a hockey dad. Ray was a lifetime member of the Local Knights of Columbus, council 2766. Along with brothers Bob & Louis, Ray was a dedicated Prospector with a passion to show the family the trade – always looking to strike gold! In 2007, he was recognized by the Northwestern Ontario Prospector’s Association and awarded an Honorary Lifetime membership. Log rolling was another passion of Rays, starting at a young age with Frank Peloquin, Bill Fontana and Murray Howarth. He taught all of his children to log roll and in 1981 he won the Senior World Log Rolling Championship in Hayward, Wisconsin. Ray was an avid hunter and fisherman who especially enjoyed going to Moose Camp every fall for the past 28 years. He loved the time spent with his family and friends just as much as the hunt!

Everyone knew if you wanted to find Ray he would be at Bears Pass in his backhoe, garden or property. Later in life Ray became a gifted soap stone artist whose work has been displayed at the Fort Frances Public Library.

Raymond is survived by his wife of 61 years, Helen (Kellar), daughter Darlene (Ken) Desjardins, sons James (Kristen), Bradley (Debby), Edward (Stephanie), and George (Christie). He made many memories with his grandchildren Kenny Desjardins, Simone (Dave) Desjardins, Natalie Mitchell (Tim), and Timmy Desjardins (Jessica): Michelle and Leah Cousineau; Elizabeth Cousineau; Ashton and Serena Cousineau; Josh and Jillian Cousineau; and great grandchildren Carter, Alexandra and Alice Desjardins. He is also survived by many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, cousins and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ray was the last of his 8 siblings. He was predeceased by his parents William and Marie; brothers Robert, Leon, Roy, Jim, Louis, Bernard; sisters Joan Boileau and Rose Marie DeGagne; Brothers-in-law Louis Boileau, Earl Kellar, Daryl Westover, Ken Kellar, Wayne Strachan, James Whitman; Sisters-in-law Marion, Doris, Barb and Margaret Cousineau, Dixie Kellar, and Kay Boileau.

A celebration of life will take place Friday, May 26, 2023 at 11:00 am at St. Mary’s Parish.

In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Mary’s Parish or St. Mary’s Youth Group would be appreciated.