He is predeceased by his wife Margaret (nee Jurik) in 2017 and his son Raymond Henri in 1975. He leaves behind his daughter Elaine (Garvin Towell, deceased 2016), sons Robert and Francois (Barbara Stewart) and daughter Marguerite (Fraser McWilliams). He also leaves behind 5 grandchildren Julie (Jaime Squirrell), Lainie Towell, Benjamin (Aaron Anderson), Patrick (Teagan Murray) and Carolyn (Mark Rossi) Gratton and 7 great grandchildren Jesse, Danika, Marley, Charlotte, Julianna, Kohen and Remy.
Ray was predeceased by his parents Napoleon and Rose-Alma (nee Julien) as well as all of his 12 brothers and sisters Laurent, Julien, Dollard, Yves, Gerald, Fleur-Ange, Anita, Yvette, Eleonore, Fleur de Mai, Rose-Blanche and Rollande as well as all of their spouses. This generation of Grattons spanned almost 120 years (1901 to 2020). The Grattons are one of the 107 founding families of Canada having arrived around 1665. Napoleon was a fun-loving father who loved hockey and had a keen eye to spot an opportunity. Rose-Alma is a saint who delivered and raised 13 children. When the family got together, chaos and mayhem usually ensued. They knew how to have a good time. Just ask any one of the survivors and they will regale you with stories for hours.
Ray started in business during the Great Depression. He started selling family portraits to neighbors and friends in the Sandy Hill area. The business became so successful that he and his partners had their own reserved table at the Canadian Grill dining room in the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa. Napoleon sent Ray to live in Toronto to live with his brother Gerry in the late 1940s. He was to learn how to make a “real living”. There he met his wife Margaret Jurik, from then Czechoslovakia. They married in 1948 and returned to Ottawa. Ray worked as a salesman selling pretty much anything with his father. He reluctantly took a position with 3M Canada Ltd in the Automotive and Industrial Products Divisions. His success with 3M earned Marge and him, several company trips to exotic destinations around the world. He retired in 1992 but continued in real estate and mortgage lending for many years.
Ray made sure all his children learned the value of a nickel. We all had turns hauling cases of Pepsi and counting mountains of coins on Friday nights (vending machines were another sideline) or maintaining his rental properties. He paid low but was quick to point out that there were no deductions. All of this before we were 16 years old and passed the age of legal child slavery.
The world has lost the last of a great generation of “bon vivants” who really knew the meaning of fun. If you hear a great commotion coming from the heavens, rest assured that this just the great party family of Napoleon and Rose-Alma Gratton having the time of their lives.
The family invites you to be part of the Celebration by visiting: https://funeraweb.tv/fr/defunts/
UNDER THE OPTION MEMORIAL WEBCASTS (ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF YOUR SCREEN) ENTER THE NAME GRATTON WHICH WILL DIRECT YOU TO THE SERVICE
La famille vous invite à visionner en direct ou en rediffusion le service commémoratif de M. Gratton sur le site suivant : https://funeraweb.tv/fr/defunts/
VOUS DEVEZ INSCRIRE SOUS LE TITRE WEBDIFFUSIONS DES CÉRÉMONIES EN CHAPELLE (À LA GAUCHE DE VOTRE ÉCRAN) LE NOM GRATTON ET VOUS SEREZ DIRIGÉ VERS LE SERVICE.
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