Joseph DESBIENS

Joseph Desbiens , of Kelowna --- Date of Death: March 8th, 2005 --- Joseph passed away peacefully at Douglas Fir extended care unit in Kelowna on Tuesday, March 8, 2005. Had he lived to March 14th, the day of his funeral, he would have been 87 years old. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joan; son Paul and wife Mary-Joe, two daughters: Denise Frattini and Margaret and husband Rick Orton; grandchildren: Mathew, Ashleigh and Alissa Desbiens, Paulo and Anthony Frattini and Sabrina Grossi; four great grandchildren; sisters: Marguerite Boudreau of Thunder Bay, ON, Annette Bourdon of Medford, NY, Gemma Marin of Mattice, ON, Therese Girard of Timmins, ON and Patricia Desbiens of Toronto and Yvette; brothers: Arthur Desbiens of Kapuskasing, ON and George Desbiens of Montreal, PQ and many nieces and nephews. Joseph was predeceased by five brothers: Joseph, François, Armand, Gérard and Jean; three sisters: Jeanne d’Arc, Bernadette and Elise. Phil was born in Cochrane, Ontario, the fourth of 17 children, on March 14, 1918. His family lived on a small farm in Strickland, Northern Ontario. The Desbiens family was intensely French Canadian and Roman Catholic. The little parish church that Phil attended was dedicated to Ste. Gertrude. Phil was proud of recounting how he would complete his chores in the barn before attending daily mass. There was always several Desbiens children in the Ste. Gertrude church choir for mass. Phil was by all accounts a very hard worker and he was devoted to his mother. One of his first paid jobs was as a cook’s helper in a lumber camp when he was 17 years old. He sent most of his meager earnings home to assist his mother to provide for the family. At 23 years of age in 1941, Phil volunteered for the Canadian Armed Forces and joined the Algonquin Regiment. Phil did his basic training in Vernon, BC and then was posted to England. Phil met his wife Joan in England in 1941. You can imagine Joan’s surprise when a dashing young French Canadian helped her with luggage to get on the train. Phil wasn’t asked for his assistance; he just jumped in, in typical fashion and offered his help. Phil served in Scotland as a Sergeant Instructor and in Holland as an interpreter. Phil returned to Ontario with his war bride and his first daughter Margaret in 1946. After being on the farm for a short time Phil moved his family to Burwash, Ontario where he worked for a few years. By 1950 Phil joined the International Nickel Company in Sudbury, Ontario where he worked as a hard rock miner for 33 years. Phil was a patient man and a wonderful father and husband. Phil maintained a deep faith in God. His neighbours loved him because of his kindness and gentleness. Phil was very dedicated to his family, he loved to cook and garden, and he was always busy in a well paced and consistent way. He was a rock and he will be missed. One of Phil’s greatest pleasures was his six grandchildren whom he loved dearly. Phil and Joan retired to Kelowna in 1993. Phil never complained even though he suffered near blindness for the last decade of his life. He lived the simple pleasures of waking his dog, tending to his plants and attending his church. Phil, you are truly loved and missed by everyone. Your humble and kind ways are an example for us all. Prayers were said on Sunday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m. from St. Charles Garnier Catholic Church, 3645 Benvoulin Road, Kelowna where the Funeral Mass was followed on Monday, March 14 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Douglas Fir Unit (Cottonwoods Hospice) would be appreciated. Arrangements entrusted to First Memorial Funeral Services, Kelowna, B.C. 250-762-2299.