Louis-Marie Babin

March 9, 1931 – October 30, 2021

It is with great sadness we announce the peaceful passing of our father, Louis-Marie Babin at Sunnybrook Palliative Care in Toronto, on Saturday, October 30th, 2021 at the age of 90.

Louis came from humble beginnings, the second to youngest child of a large French-Canadian family from Fauvel, Gaspésie. His father passed away when Louis was three years old. He developed strong mechanical aptitudes helping his uncles and cousins in a family-owned garage. Later he travelled the northeast US and western provinces in Canada with his cousins and experienced many adventures. His brother and sister-in-law introduced Louis to Odette at a family dinner in Fauvel followed by a card game. He later married Odette, his sweetheart and headed to Cornwall, Ontario. Louis was a Heavy Duty / Diesel mechanic for Pitts Engineering building the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1958. He headed northwest to Sault St. Marie and finally settling in to Toronto where he helped build-out the QEW and the 401.

Louis and Odette raised their growing family of four ensuring they learned music and attended university. Louis and Odette were founding members of the Saint-Louis-de-France, a Roman Catholic parish which provided a community for French speaking parishioners. The family of six travelled every summer to his beloved Gaspésie to see family and friends. He left his children with a love for Gaspésie, camping and travel. Louis and Odette’s door was always open, inviting many into their lives and their kitchen.

Louis is predeceased by his beloved wife Odette Babin whom he adored for 59 wonderful years.

Loving father of Lyne (Leslie), Serge (Josée), Mireille (Paul) and Michel (Sandra).

Grand-Papa will be fondly remembered by Alexandra and Stephen (Kalie), Julie (Dane) and Justin (Maggie), Philippe and Amélie. Arrière-Grand-Papa to Lucas Louis and Élise Marie, Jade Lily and Juniper Acacia. Grand-Papa will be missed by our furry family members he so dearly loved to give treats to Coco, GG and Ace; Macy; Barley, Bentley and Cairo; and Layla.

Treasured son of Justine Arseneault and Philippe Babin (Fauvel, Gaspésie).

Dear and cherished brother of Lina (late Albert), late Paul-Eugène (late Marie-Anges), late Jean-Guy (Charlotte), late Raoul (Jeannine), Yvette, late Jacques, late Jacqueline, late Claire (late Léonce) and l’Abbé Conrad Babin.

Respected brother-in-law and uncle to many nieces and nephews, and will be sadly missed by family members and many friends in Ontario and Québec “la belle province”.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff, nurses and doctors at the Palliative Care Unit at Sunnybrook Hospital. They were truly an excellent team of professionals (“1ere classe!”, as Dad would say) who were remarkable in his end-of-life care. His final days on this earth were peaceful, pain-free and full of love and compassion, surrounded by his family. He is now reunited with our mother Odette. “Ensemble, ils nous guideront.”

The family will receive friends at Paul O'Connor Funeral Home, 1939 Lawrence Ave E, Scarborough, ON M1R 2Y8 (416-751-7890) on Friday, November 12th, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, and from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. COVID-19 protocols include proof of vaccination, mandatory face coverings and contact tracing. The family kindly asks visitors to respect physical distancing for people that are at risk, may be a risk to others; have family members working in health care or may be uncomfortable in larger group settings. Please use wave or ‘hand-to-heart’ gesture instead of giving hugs, kisses and handshakes to those showing the same.

Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday morning, November 13th at 11:00 AM at Saint-Louis-de-France, 1415 Don Mills Road, Toronto, ON M3B 2X5 (416-445-6433). The funeral mass will be streamed through the Saint-Louis-de-France FaceBook page (https://www.facebook.com/saintlouisdefrance/).

Entombment at Mount Hope Cemetery, will be held at a later date with the immediate family.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in memory of Louis M. Babin to the Charles H. Best Diabetes Centre (https://www.buildingonthebest.ca/); to the Canadian Cancer Society (https://support.cancer.ca/) or to the Sunnybrook Palliative Care Unit (https://donate.sunnybrook.ca/palliativecare). This gesture would be sincerely appreciated by the family.

Merci pour vos dons charitables. C’est grandement apprécié!