LOUIS LEGAL

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LOUIS LEGAL La famille de Louis Legal annonce par les présentes son décès le 3 février 2013, à quelques heures seulement de sa 85e fête, au Centre médico-social DeSalaberry à Saint-Pierre-Jolys. Prédécédé par ses filles Monique (enfance) et Brigitte ainsi que par ses soeurs Marie-Ange et Germaine, Louis laisse dans le deuil son épouse Lorraine, ses fils Bruno (Dorryce) et Maurice (Louise), ses filles Janine et Monique (Michel), ses petits-enfants Geneviève, Benoît, Sylvie, Joël et Charity, ses frères et soeurs Thérèse Dupont, Yvonne, Léo (Diane), Florence Chartier, Yves (Yvette), Lucille (Renald Gariépy), Simone, Camille, Georges (Anne-Marie) et Jeanne ainsi que son beau-frère Léo Girard. Le monde de Louis était centré sur la paroisse de Saint-Adolphe, où il a passé sa vie presque entière. Né le 4 février 1928, fils de François Legal et de Louise Palud, Louis a été appelé en très bas âge à aider aux travaux de la ferme familiale. En 1951, il a épousé Lorraine Trudeau, après quoi les jeunes mariés sont allés vivre sur leur propre ferme, juste au nord de Saint-Adolphe, où ils allaient passer la prochaine décennie avant d'emménager dans une maison, la première de trois que Louis allait construire au village. LOUIS LEGAL Louis demonstrated his resourcefulness and entrepreneurial spirit early on. At heart, he was and always would be a builder, forever looking ahead to the next job, the next project, the next challenge. Most of Louis' professional life was spent in the construction trades, first as a carpenter in Churchill and Thompson, then as a building contractor until 1982, when he secured employment as a housing inspector. Upon retiring from the Province in 1991, he returned to part-time contracting work all over southern Manitoba. Louis' persistence was apparent in everything he did, including serving three terms as a Seine River School Division trustee. Unlike his wife Lorraine, who enthusiastically cared for her multitude of houseplants and backyard greenery, Louis sought to satisfy his curiosity about the world by travelling to Europe as part of a group expedition. He also bonded with his buddies during a few extracurricular trips to Las Vegas. Never short of project ideas, Louis eventually built himself a cottage in Rosa and, later, yet another house with garage, shed and outlying buildings in St. Malo. Construction and renovation work was often stressful and always physically demanding, but Louis was never one to complain about the trials and tribulations of work. A great believer in mutual help, he often mentioned how "lucky" he was to have been helped by friends and neighbours, paying little heed to the fact that he spent much of his own time helping others in their time of need. In 2006, the family held a centennial celebration to mark the arrival in Manitoba of Louis' paternal grandparents from France. He distinguished himself as an avid participant in the event, which would become a highlight of his later years. Before his health started to decline, Louis was a most gregarious individual: he probably knew people in every town in southern Manitoba. He loved sharing stories and spending time with his large family and even larger community. Although work was central to Louis' life, it was clear that Lorraine, his wife of nearly 62 years, played an equally important role, that of best friend and confidante. Even in his final days, he found ways to make Lorraine smile, despite her many years of living with Alzheimer's disease. The family wishes to thank the hospital staff as well as the staff of the Repos Jolys Personal Care Home for their service and assistance. Prayers will be held on Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 1:30 p.m., with the Funeral Mass to follow at 2:00 p.m. in the St. Adolphe Roman Catholic Church. Interment to follow in the parish cemetery. LECLAIRE BROTHERS in care of arrangements, 204-775-2220.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 05, 2013