Joseph Émile PION

Émile Pion Funeral services for longtime Hearst resident and retired businessman Joseph Émile Pion, 80, of 1401 Prince St. were held Jan. 31, 2002. He died Jan. 28 at Notre-Dame Hospital following a brief illness. Born May 15, 1921 in Ste-Cécile-de-Milton, Quebec, he resided in Verner, Cochrane and Kapuskasing before coming to Hearst in 1951. A master cheesemaker at the Hearst Farmers coop until the late 1950s, he then opened his downtown Emile's Groceries (now Hearst Corner Store) until 1973. A fourth-degree Knight of Columbus and member of the Club soleil des aîné-e-s seniors club, he enjoyed camping and travelling. He was described as one who loved life, and who liked to laugh and make others laugh. He was predeceased by a son Raymond Pion of Hearst in 1960, a daughter Marie-Jeanne Desbois of Sudbury in 1999, and son-in-law Roger Desbois of Sudbury in 1987. He leaves: his wife Malvina (née Crépeau) Pion of Hearst; sons Maurice (Lillianne) of Cochrane and Paul-Émile (Linda) Pion of Hearst; and daughters Colette (Ronald) Charbonneau of Sudbury and Suzanne (Nic) Poirier of Ottawa. Also surviving are his sister Lucille Gazaille of Grandby, Que., brothers Aurèle of Montreal, and Aimé, Laurent and Albert Pion, all of Grandby, nine granddaughters and three grandsons, and seven great grandchildren. Rev. Rémi Lessard officiated the morning service at the Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption Cathedral. Interment will be at the Monseigneur Grenier Cemetery.