Unexpectedly but comfortably, with his niece Esther at his side, Emile
Lautard passed away at Vancouver General Hospital on September 30, 2010.
Predeceased by his beloved wife, Mary Bernice (nee Bubar), Emile will be
mourned and missed by his son, Hugh Lautard (Joan) of Fredericton, N.B.,
grandchildren - Elizabeth, Cynthia, David and Jessica, and son, Guy Lautard of Sechelt.
As the first child of Marie and Edouard Lautard, Emile was born in Greenwood, B.C., on October 29, 1921. The family home, at that time, was the general store and post office in Carmi, B.C., a predominantly French
community. When their father was employed by the Canadian Pacific Railway, the family moved to live at various stations along the Kettle Valley line, settling at Rhone in 1934 where Papa was section foreman. Emile attended school in Rhone, and spent some time mining before following his father into a railway career. This path was disrupted by the commencement of WW II when Emile, at age 18, volunteered for the army. He served from 1940-1946 in the Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps.
As a teenager, Emile had accepted and completed a challenge to build a cabin teacherage for a young lady, Mary Bernice Bubar, who had been employed to teach at the Rhone school. On January 9, 1943, they were married.
Demobilized from the army, Emile became CPR section foreman at Ruth, Jellicoe and Copper Mountain. He also worked as extra-gang foreman. The couple now had a family, with sons Hugh and Guy. Leaving the CPR, Emile completed his secondary education and went on to study at UBC where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters degree in Social Work.
With this achievement, he spent the rest of his working life in service to the community, becoming Social Services Supervisor in Delta, B.C. After
retirement the Commissionaires occupied Emile’s time.
The failing health of his precious wife, her care and comfort became the
focus and devotion of Emile’s life for her final years. Emile will be laid to rest beside Bernice in the cemetery at Rock Creek, B.C.
A memorial service was held at St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Kettle Valley, B.C., on Saturday, October 9, 2010.
Emile’s recent years have been supported, comforted and enlivened by
Margaret Lautard and Esther Lautard, for whose warmth, love and
assistance he often expressed touching gratitude.
Emile was predeceased by his siblings: Robert, Clemence, Mary, Bobby and
Gerard. He is survived by his brothers Paul and Edouard, and by his sisters Ann, Helen and Jeannette. Uncle Emile was loved and honoured by his many nieces and nephews and by the next generation to whom he showed great affection.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Kidney Foundation of Canada or the
Alzheimer Society of B.C. in memory of Emile would be appreciated.
Funeral arrangements in care of Hansons’ Arbor Funeral Services, 527 Ellis Street, Penticton, B.C.