Bing GALLANT

Deacon Bing On the day of Our Lord's Resurrection, Sunday November 17, 2002, Deacon Bing very peacefully left this earthly life, to be united with the Father that he had so deeply loved and served. Bing's death, at the age of 47 years, came unexpectedly although he had been battling cancer for the past eight months. Bing was the cherished husband and soul-mate of Liana Gallant whom he loved as life itself. He was a devoted father and his spirit will live on through his children Genevieve (26), Jamie (24), Joshua (20), Justin (18) and Emily (15). Bing's parents, Alban and Albertine Gallant of Souris, PEI will deeply mourn the loss of their beloved son. Bing also leaves behind his brother Maurice, his sister-in-law Michelle and their children Nicholas, Jeffrey and Monique. Both Liana's sister, Rev. Margaret Coleman and her brother Ron Coleman (Kathy) and their sons Travis and Peter are deeply saddened by the loss of such a wonderful brother-in-law. Many, many devoted cousins and faithful friends remain to mourn Bing in his beloved Maritimes and throughout Canada. Bing served his God faithfully for almost 20 years as a High School religion teacher. Following his reception of Holy Orders, he served the community as a Deacon in the role of Chaplain for MAP - Mentorship, Aftercare and Presence - a charitable organization that Bing founded to serve members of our society who have recently been discharged from prison and who so desperately need an outstretched hand to help them "to begin again". Had Bing lived longer, it was his desire to begin a new ministry to help single mothers within our communities. His heart was huge. Bing's wake will begin on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Kelly Funeral Home, 2370 St. Joseph's Blvd. in Orleans. The wake will continue at Bing's parish church - St. Mary's, 100 Young Street, Ottawa from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday. There will be a Closing Prayer Service at 8:30 p.m. In celebration of a joy-filled life, Bing's Funeral Mass will take place at St. Mary's on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. Bing never forgot that life is a gift from God, given to us to be lived out, one day at a time. He lived his life with a special and contagious joy, which was firmly rooted in a deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ. He would want these final days to be celebrated in the same way. Friends and family, "former students", colleagues and children of all ages are warmly invited to participate in these gatherings in celebration of Bing's life. There will be time to hug and to cry, to laugh and to sing, to pray and especially to rejoice that our beloved Bing has gone ahead into the waiting arms of His Shepherd. Bing loved flowers but he also had a very practical side to his dynamic personality. Donations in his memory could be made to MAP or to St. Mary's Home - a refuge for expectant mothers in need. The Ottawa Citizen, 17-11-2002