LOUIS NOEL PREFONTAINE B.A., B.Sc. (Pharmacy)

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LOUIS NOEL PREFONTAINE

B.A., B.Sc. (Pharmacy)

April 8, 1931 – July 27, 2023

Pharmacist, army officer, world traveler, sky sports enthusiast and racing yacht crewmember, Louis Noël Préfontaine passed away peacefully at Hôpital Saint-Boniface Hospital on July 27th, 2023, after a long struggle with COPD. Louis was born at this very same hospital on April 8th, 1931, to parents Bertha (née Cyr) and Jean-Joseph Préfontaine.



Upon completing high school, Louis pursued his university studies at Collège Universitaire de Saint-Boniface where he graduated summa cum laude in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin Philosophy. During his university years, he joined the Canadian Officers Training Corps (COTC) and undertook extensive military training at both Curry Barracks in Calgary, Alberta and Camp Borden near Barrie, Ontario. As a member of the COTC, Louis was involved in several relief operations related to the Red River Flood of 1950. Upon earning an officer’s commission to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in 1951, he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) and was based at Camp Shilo, Manitoba. Louis later went on to study at the University of Manitoba’s School of Pharmacy where he graduated in 1957 as Class President and as the University’s Gold Medalist in Pharmacy. Many of Louis’ close lifelong friends were fellow School of Pharmacy graduates from the mid to late 1950s. Louis co-owned and operated Pharmacie Préfontaine Pharmacy and the Centre Médical Norwood Medical Centre for many years with his father, who was also a pharmacist and businessperson. These two businesses were located at the corner of avenue Traverse and rue Marion in Saint-Boniface.



In 1960, Louis met Claudette Fabas on a blind date. Dazzled by her incredible beauty, elegance and intelligence he proposed to her only six weeks later. She eventually succumbed to his charm and they were married on July 8th, 1961. Louis whisked away his young bride on an amazing, romantic 90-day round-the-world cruise and they never looked back. Travel and adventure continued to be at the core of their marriage and family life. Louis and Claudette joyously celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary on July 8th, only a couple of weeks before his passing. Their love and devotion to each other is an inspiration to all those who know them. Louis always repeated, “Your mother is the love of my life”.



Louis is survived by his wife Claudette (née Fabas), son Raymond and wife Gisèle (née St-Godard) of West Kelowna, British Columbia, daughter Nicole Préfontaine and husband Philippe Perrin of Paris, France, granddaughter Janelle Préfontaine and husband Neil Perrier, granddaughter Natalie Préfontaine, granddaughter Élise Galy-Jammou-Préfontaine, his two adorable great-grandsons, Nicolas and Beau Perrier, and goddaughter Cyndi Kasper. Louis was predeceased by his parents and his two brothers, Florida-born Rodolphe (“Rod” or “Pre”) formerly of Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands and Gérald (“Gerry”) formerly of Saint-Pierre-Jolys, Manitoba. He is survived by his dear brothers and sisters-in-law Martha Préfontaine of Auburn Hills, Michigan, Gilbert Fabas and Robyn Geddes-Fabas of Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Diana Fabas-Pirie (widow of Douglas Fabas-Pirie), Marc and Mary Lynne Fabas all of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and also by nieces Valérie, Christina, Caleigh, and Keera, nephew Richard, great-nieces Dominique and Tehya, and great-nephews Aidan and Tyson.



Louis’s hobbies and interests were numerous. Of course, travel was his greatest passion, but not just any kind of travel, as he sought out adventure by travelling with the locals and often doing so in perilous situations. Indeed, he was a regular contributor to several backpackers’ travel guides such as “Lonely Planet”. He also loved studying languages. Before each trip, he would study the local language and managed to learn a good amount of Mandarin, Russian, and German. He was particularly proficient in Latin (learnt as a schoolboy) and fluent in Spanish (learnt during a one-year immersive course in 1969 at the Universidad de Guadalajara, México).



In addition, Louis enjoyed following current affairs and sharing his views by writing letters to the editor in various newspapers, reading history books and studying travel maps. He was an avid adventure sportsman. He had his private pilot’s license. He went gliding, skydiving, hot-air ballooning and participated as a crewmember in two international sailing yacht races in the Gulf of México. While living lakeside in Saint-Malo, Manitoba he took up an interest in astronomy by following the movement of the planets and stars with his powerful telescope.



The family would like to thank all of the doctors, nurses and support staff of the WRHA’s Palliative Care Program (notably his nurse Chanelle) and of the Palliative Care Unit at Hôpital Saint-Boniface Hospital for the wonderful and gracious care that Louis received during his final months. Raymond and Nicole would like to praise their mother for her devotion, patience, courage and all the sacrifices she made as caregiver to their father over the last few years.



As the Last Rites of the Roman Catholic Church were administered at the hospital, no service is planned other than a private family gathering at the Green Acres Cemetery to celebrate his life. In lieu of flowers, Claudette and family are requesting that people consider a donation to the Fondation de l’Hôpital Saint-Boniface Hospital Foundation.

GREEN ACRES

Funeral Home and Cemetery

(204) 222-3241

Condolences may be sent to

www.greenacresfuneralhome.com

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 05, 2023