CME Family Last Post

Nous avons le regret de vous annoncer le décès de l'Adjudant Dave Boudreault, CD (à la retraite) à son domicile de Shannon QC le 22 février 2024, à l'âge de 44 ans.

Dave est né à Baie-Comeau dans la région de la Côte-Nord au Québec et s'est joint aux Forces canadiennes en 2000 en tant que sapeur de combat. Une grande partie de sa carrière s'est déroulée au sein du 5e Régiment du génie de combat.
En plus de sa formation en génie de combat, Dave a complété divers cours dont : le cours avancé en montagne, le cours de maître en insertion d'hélicoptère, le cours élémentaire de parachutisme et le cours de conseiller arctique. Fort de ces qualifications, il est affecté au Centre d'instruction avancée de l'Armée canadienne où il a pu transmettre ses connaissances en enseignant le parachutisme militaire, les opérations en montagne et des cours avancés de guerre hivernale.

Dave a participé à l'opération ATHENA en Afghanistan en 2007-2008 et est revenu en tant que commandant de section lors de la rotation 2010-2011. Dave a également participé à l'opération UNIFY en 2016 en tant qu'adjudant de troupe. Dave a pris sa retraite des Forces canadiennes en 2021 après plus de vingt ans de service.

Ceux qui ont partagé de bons moments avec Dave sont invités à partager son souvenir avec la famille le 6 mars 2024 au Centre Funéraire Saint-Charles {1420 Bd Wilfrid-Hamel, Québec, QC}  Condoléances : 13h00 à 16h00 Cérémonie : 16h00-16h45 et Réception : 16h45-18h45. Au lieu de fleurs, des dons peuvent être faits au Centre de prévention du suicide de Québec et/ou Deuil-Jeunesse. Les condoléances en ligne peuvent être envoyées au salon funéraire.

We regret to advise of the death of Sapper Alfred Lawrence Sterling (Ret’d) on 17 February 2024  in Vernon BC, at age 84 years.

Al was born in Saskatoon SK and lived with his Uncle Burt and Aunt Pat until he was 16 when he enlisted in 1956 in the Canadian Army under the Apprentice Program. Al joined the Sappers Apprentice 5^th Intake at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack BC. Upon graduating, he was posted to 3 Field Squadron in Chilliwack, but he was soon posted to 4 Field Squadron in Germany for four years. Upon returning to Canada, Al left the Canadian Forces in 1963.

Al lived in the Vernon area for 55 years. He was a volunteer Fireman as well as part of Kinsmen Club. Al enjoyed serving his community as an Alderman in the Coldstream and Regional District.

Funeral arrangements are private. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.

We regret to advise of the death of Sergeant Larry Ramore, CD (Ret’d) on 15 February 2024 in The Philippines at the age 60 years. Larry had served with the Canadian Military Engineers for more than 24 years.

Larry joined the Canadian Forces in 1985 as a Field Engineer and served in this occupation for 14 years before he remustered to Construction Technician in 1999. During his career, Larry’s postings included Canadian Forces Base Shilo (1989), 4 Engineer Support Regiment (1993), CFB Winnipeg (2003) and his final posting back to 4 Engineer Support Regiment in 2005.  Larry also deployed twice to Bosnia (1994 and 2000) and Kosovo in 1999.

Larry retired from the Canadian Forces in 2009 and eventually moved to the Philippines where the temperate climate helped ease some medical conditions.

Larry’s family is hosting a  Celebration of Life for Larry at the Geary Lions Club in Geary, NB on 6 July 2024 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. All those who Larry touched are welcome to come and celebrate with the family.

We regret to advise of the death of Master Warrant Officer John Laurence Rebbitt, CD (Ret’d)  of Calgary AB, on 12 February 2024, at the age of 87 years. John was born in Stretford, England. The youngest of three children, his childhood was greatly impacted by the outbreak of the Second World War, particularly during the Blitz when his family was forced to relocate several times when bombs destroyed successive homes.

John finished school at fourteen and then completed an apprenticeship as a carpenter, a skill that would provide him with enjoyment throughout his life.  John was a boxer, soccer player, and lifelong athlete, coach, and sports enthusiast. He moved to Canada in 1957 as a young married man' Unable to find steady employment in Calgary as a carpenter, however, John joined the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada infantry regiment in 1958. Years and several postings later with the Queen’s Own in Canada and in Germany. John remustered to Carpenter and joined the Royal Canadian Engineers. He rose to become a Foreman of Works  before retiring from the Canadian Forces  and working for the British Columbia Government as a foreman in Vancouver. A few years later, he became an Architectural Design Technician with the Department of National Defense in the Esquimalt dockyards and served in that capacity until he retired from Public Service.

Funeral arrangements were private. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.

We regret to advise of the death of Master Corporal  William Thomas “Bill” Sigsworth, CD (Ret’d) on 5 February 2024 in Williams Lake BC at age 64 after his battle with cancer.

Bill was born in Gander NL and his father’s work moved the family many places including Halifax NS, Puntzi Lake BC, Wembley AB, Beaverlodge AB, and Prince George BC.  The family made their final move to Williams Lake in 1970 where Bill attended school prior to joining the Canadian Armed Forces in 1978. He served a 28-year career with the Canadian Military Engineers as a Plumbing and Heating Technician during which time he raised a family of 10 children.

After retiring from the Armed Forces in 2007 in Cold Lake AB, Bill and his family settled in Williams Lake BC where they welcomed their 11^th child. For his second career, Bill spent 16 years serving the community as a renowned plumber at Burgess Plumbing Heating and Electrical. In his spare time, Bill enjoyed being outdoors either fishing, quadding, camping, or spending weekends at the cabin with his family.

In accordance with Bill's wishes there will be no funeral service. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the Royal Canadian Legion-Branch 139.

We regret to advise of the death of Firefighter Master Corporal Don Goodman, CD (Ret’d) of St. Albert AB on 29 January 2024 at the age of 88 years.

During his career as a Firefighter, Don served at locations that included Canadian Forces Base Comox BC, CFB Goose Bay NL  and CFB Ottawa ON. During his Ottawa posting, he deployed to Canadian Forces Station Alert NU.

Don’s final move brought the family to Alberta in 1976. After several more moves within Alberta, the family made St. Albert their home. He worked for the federal government in a second career. Don was an avid sportsman throughout his life and continued to play baseball and hockey as a senior. 

A Celebration of Life will be held on 16 February 2024, from 12 noon to 3:00 pm in the St. Albert Legion {6 Tache St, St. Albert AB}. Please dress casually and bring some stories to share.

Instead of flowers, please consider giving to: University Hospital Foundation - Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute – University Hospital Foundation or No Stone Left Alone Memorial Foundation .
Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home. 

We regret to advise of the death of Frances Bailie, peacefully,  on 29 January 2024. Mrs Bailie, 
Was the daughter of the Late Colonel Coulson Norman Mitchell, VC, MC. 

Mrs. Bailie and her sister Marjorie Urquhart dedicated the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering building at Gagetown in their father’s name in April 1998. She supported the CME Museum in researching and teaching Lt.-Col. Mitchell’s story and was a source of entertaining and vivid tales of her father’s time in the Royal Canadian Engineers.

Frances was born in Crows Nest Pass AB  but was brought up in Montreal QC from the age of two in the Town of Mont Royal. Here, many of her creative skills were formed - pottery, wax candles and her greatest skill in oil painting.  After High School and one year at McGill University, she and her mother moved to British Columbia where her father was commanding Camp Chilliwack and the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering. She spent that first winter at the Chilliwack Business College which stood her in good stead for work at the Roval Victoria Hospital in Montreal on their return after the war. Later she worked at Mount Royal United Church and, upon moving to Toronto in 1980, at Bloor Street United Church.

Funeral arrangements are private. A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.

We regret to advise of the death of Chief Warrant Officer Joseph Richard Ernest “Richard” McMullen, CD (Ret’d),  a resident of Broadmead Veteran’s Memorial Lodge in Victoria BC, rather unexpectedly, on 27 January 2024, at the age of 82 years.

Richard began his career in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1958 at the age of 16 as a Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps boy soldier with the Apprentice Training Plan. He later remustered to become a Construction Engineering Procedures Technician with the Canadian Military Engineers (CME). Richard completed his 38-year career with the CME, rising to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer before retiring in 1991.

Richard served at locations across Canada and overseas in Belgium and deployed to Cambodia/Vietnam. His postings included: Montreal QC (1958 - 1960), Petawawa, ON (1960 - 1963), Antwerp, Belgium (1963 - 1966), Ottawa, ON (1966 - 1969), Phnom Penh, Cambodia (1969), Saigon, Vietnam (1970), Quebec City, QC (1970 - 1973), Masset, BC (1973 - 1975),  Camp Borden, ON (1975 - 1979), Greenwood, NS (1979 - 1981), Cold Lake, AB (1981 - 1991) and  Trenton, ON (1991). 

Following his retirement, Richard and his wife settled in Victoria BC. He was quite the athlete and enjoyed playing many sports, including baseball, hockey and football. Table tennis was a favourite in his later years, and he competed and won many medals in several BC Senior Games.

If you wish to donate in Richard’s memory, please consider Broadmead Care’s Veterans Memorial Lodge or the Alzheimer’s Society. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.

 

We regret to advise of the death of Warrant Officer Vincent Anthony Hohn, CD (Ret’d) of Chilliwack BC on 27 January 2024 at age 83 while in hospital in Abbotsford BC.

Vince was born in Alva, St. Ann’s Parish, Jamaica and h He and emigrated to Toronto with his father when he was 11 years old. Vince joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1957 at age 16 as a member of Intake 6 of the  Sapper’s Apprentice program. His 34-year military career with the Royal Canadian Engineers  included postings to Werl, Germany; Valcartier QC, Petawawa ON and Chilliwack BC.

Vince earned a Criminology diploma from Fraser Valley College in his early 40s and then co-owned and operated Jackson-Murray Consultants, an addiction counselling and rehabilitation centre in Surrey BC. After Vince retired, he turned his attention to what would become his two great passions: casual ballroom dancing and genealogy.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the months to come. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his honour to either the BC Cancer Foundation or to Diabetes Canada. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.

We regret to advise of the death of Corporal Charles Jeremiah ‘Jerry’ Goodwin, CD (Ret’d) on 22 January 2024, peacefully at Marianhill Residence in Pembroke ON at the age of 86 years.

Born in Nova Scotia,  he enlisted as an Infantryman with the 2^nd Battalion, Canadian Guards at age 18 but was eventually to remuster and join the Canadian Military Engineers. During his military career he served in various posts in Canada, including Gagetown, NB and Petawawa, ON. He also deployed to Canadian Forces Station Alert, to Germany and on a peacekeeping mission in Cyprus.

Jerry was an active member of The Royal Canadian Legion, serving in various offices for many years.

There will be no formal visitation.  A private family interment will take place at Laurel Hill Cemetery, Pubnico, NS at a later date.A Royal Canadian Legion Memorial Service will be held for family and friends at a later date and will be announced. Donations to the Royal Canadian Legion Br. 72 Pembroke in memory of Jerry would be appreciated. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.