- The Carillon Passages
- All Titles
Search:
Notices are posted by 10 am Monday through Saturday
RAYMOND BLAIS
Date of Passing: May 04, 2024
Offer Condolences or Memory Make a donation to St. Boniface Hospital Foundation
RAYMOND BLAIS
It is with heavy hearts and profound sadness that we, the family, announce the passing of our dear husband, dad, papa and brother, Raymond Blais, on May 4, 2024, from Myocarditis.
Ray was predeceased by his father and mother John and Venice, his father-in-law and mother-in-law Walter and Kay Sulyma and his brother-in-law Clifford Sulyma.
Ray will be forever loved and remembered by his beloved wife Sandra; daughter Kathryn (Jeff); grandson Luke; son Derek; granddaughter Danella; and brother Richard (Marilyn).
Ray attended St. Alphonsus Elementary School, Munroe Junior High and Miles Macdonell Collegiate. Upon graduation, he began his lifelong career in May 1968 with the Department of Highways for the Province of Manitoba. He enjoyed his career very much, especially all the people that he worked with and all of the extensive travelling he did within Manitoba. Ray retired in April 2006 as the Manager of Aggregate Resources for the Materials Engineering Branch.
While working there he met the love of his life, Sandra. They discovered that they both lived in East Kildonan and began to carpool to work in his “Blaze” Orange 1970 Roadrunner. During their drives across the city, they became best friends and quickly fell deeply in love. They married on October 4, 1974, in St. Alphonsus Church and began their wonderful 50-year marriage a few blocks away on Pleasant Bay. There, they created a loving home for their children, Kathryn and Derek. They became part of the Pleasant Bay community, joining in on block parties, neighbourhood watch programs and helping neighbours with anything. Ray’s children attended St Alphonsus Elementary School, just as he did. He joined various boards and committees for the school and was a proud founding member of the St. Alphonsus Galas, which still continue to this day.
Ray’s love for his family was unmatched. He would do anything for us. We were always “first”. Family trips within Canada, to California, the Black Hills, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Arizona and the Caribbean will never be forgotten. When grandchildren Luke and Danella were born, his love for them was over the top. Many sleepovers, time spent together in the workshop making Christmas decorations, building forts, playing cards and board games were all immensely enjoyed.
Ray had a passion for antique restoration and for collecting vintage model trains. It was the ‘thrill of the hunt’ for Ray as he would come home with a new train to restore almost weekly. He was a Winnipeg Blue Bomber fan and a huge Winnipeg Jets fan and could always be found pacing in his den while watching the Jets games on TV in his full Jets attire. Ray had a love for gardening. He loved beautifying his yard with Hostas and many flowers. He cultivated and propagated Canna Lillies that he generously gave away to anyone who would appreciate them. He also was a self-taught carpenter and he used these skills to frequently update and repair not only his home and yard but that of his family, neighbours and friends. He was careful, methodical and meticulous in everything he did.
Ray built lasting relationships and impacted more people than we can ever know. He was wise, strong, kind, humble and generous. He never complained or asked for anything. He was solid as a rock. He treated everyone he met with kindness, love, and respect. Ray’s passing leaves a void in the hearts of those who had the privilege of knowing him. His warm smile and kind eyes touched the lives of many and his memory will be cherished for years to come. There are no words to describe how much he was loved and will be missed.
Our family would like to extend sincere thanks and gratitude to all of the doctors, the nurses and the support staff of the Cardiac Care Unit at the I.H. Asper Institute. We cannot say enough about the care, the compassion and the dignity that Ray received while he was there.
Cremation and interment have taken place. A private family Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the 5th Floor, Intensive Cardiac Care Unit of the I.H. Asper Institute, in Memory of Raymond Blais. Phone: 204-237-2067 or stbhf.ca
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 28, 2024, Sep 28, 2024
Condolences & Memories (6 entries)
-
Saddened to learn that yet another of the Highways "Old Guard" has passed. It was always a pleasure to talk with Ray either in a phone call or when he stopped in to the office during the annual aggregate testing swing through the province. My condolences to Sandra, family and Ray's many friends. Chuck Lund, MB. Hwys, Retired. - Posted by: Chuck Lund (Mb. Highways Co worker) on: Oct 01, 2024
-
Sandra, I am so sorry for your loss...please accept our deepest condolences to you and all the family. You are in my thoughts and prayers I don't know if you remember, but our family grew up in East Kildonan pretty much across the street from Ray and Richard and his parents. We also belonged to St. Alphonsus. My parents were friends of both his parents as well as Walter and Kay. May he rest in peace and may your many memories bring you comfort as time passes. God Bless, Theresa - Posted by: Theresa Joss-Bilous (neighbour/friends of the family) on: Sep 30, 2024
-
Ray was married to our cousin Sandra. He was automatically accepted by our family. We didn't see much of Ray due to the fact of us living in Thunder Bay. But due to correspondence with Sandra. We weren't surprised to hear what a wonderful husband and father he was. Besides a great-grandfather. May God bless you with the courage and strength to carry on. He will be forever remembered in our hearts. And missed so much. Rest in peace my dear Ray Will never forget you. Sandra, Katherine & Derek our deepest sympathy. You're in our prayers. Love Dante and Ollie - Posted by: Dante and Ollie Macchi (Cousin ) on: Sep 28, 2024
-
I feel sad due to passing away of our former staff. My condolences to all of his family members, relatives and friends. - Posted by: M. Alauddin Ahammed, Ph.D., P.Eng. (Fellow staff of the Materials Engineering Branch ) on: Sep 28, 2024
-
I met Ray in Virden Mb when he stopped by our shop to ask if we had a machine available to do some gravel testing. It turned into a multi year event as I tested gravel with him and his crew of university students far and wide in western and northern Manitoba. We stayed in the same motels and ate our meals together for weeks at a time. Most of the time was spent laughing, some at ourselves and a lot of the time at the antics of the students. We were testing for gravel just out of Brandon during the Mount ST. Helens eruption and the sky was gray with dust. It was close to 100 F and air conditioning was non existent so we thought maybe an ice cold beer at 3 pm would be more suitable at coffee time so we picked up 6 and put them in a cooler on ice. Well we were in the bush without a breath of wind at 3 so shut down the machine to have a cold one. No sooner had we raised our bottles did we hear a voice calling. It was the manager of the highways department for Brandon who had come out to see if we had found any good gravel. Ray ever the diplomat reached in the cooler and handed the manager an ice cold beer who took a healthy gulp. Then he said this is the best dammed gravel testing crew I have ever experienced. Finished his beer and left. I am sorry for your family's loss of Ray. There has been a lot of water under the bridge since those days in the late seventies and early eighties. I have passed my eightieth birthday now and can still look back at those summers of fun with Ray. - Posted by: Christopher (Kit) Bell (Friend) on: Sep 28, 2024
-
So sorry for your loss, Sandra. Always liked Ray. Hugs. Peter. - Posted by: Peter Pauls (Friend) on: Sep 28, 2024
