BOURQUE, EDGAR JOSEPH - The death of Edgar Joseph Bourque, husband of Edwina Marie Aurea Bourque occurred in the Palliative Care Unit of the Saint John Regional Hospital on February 22, 2008 following a five-year period of failing health. During his final years, Edgar bore his illnesses with prostate cancer and a heart condition with great dignity and character and lived as fully as possible with continued enthusiasm for many work projects. Edgar, a proud Acadian, was born in Bronson Settlement on April 2, 1925, the eighth child of the late Marcel and Charlotte (McPhee) Bourque. He attended school in Bronson, but as a young man, left the village to work to help his family. For three years, Edgar was employed as a Stationary Engineer at the Saint John Dry Dock. In 1944, he joined the army to serve his country during WWII, but later returned to the Dry Dock where he made many lifelong friends. During his working life, Edgar was employed as a Stationary Engineer, Crane Operator, and Head of Maintenance for various companies including the Dry Dock, Dexter Construction, Admiral Beatty Hotel, and the Province of New Brunswick. Throughout his retirement, Edgar thoroughly enjoyed working on projects in his garage, cutting wood at his woodlot, and taking long drives with Edwina. Edgar's intelligence and his enthusiasm for life and work endeared him to a wide circle of friends both young and old. Many sought his advice and knowledge for solving mechanical and many sorts of technical problems. Edgar married Edwina (Bourque) on September 17, 1954 and together they shared fifty-four loving years of married life. Edgar was, above all, a loyal, affectionate and proud husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He is survived by his devoted wife, Edwina M.A. (Bourque); his children, Louis, (Marsha Mailman), of Wolfville, Yvonne, of Saint John, Maureen, of Saint John, and Edwin, (Pamela, née Stackhouse) of Rothesay; and three grandchildren, Maria Naomi Bourque, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, and Danielle Élise Bourque and Emilie Jane Bourque of Rothesay. In addition, he is survived by his three sisters, Clara Smith of Victoria B.C., Exilda McLeary of Desbarats, Ontario, and Loretta Earle of Saint John. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Marilyn (née Gullage) (Bourque) Worden and by many cousins, nieces and nephews, and grand-nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed by his close friends, Francis Degrace, Gerald Duguay, and Wiley McGinley. In addition to his parents, Charlotte and Marcel Bourque, Edgar was predeceased by his father and mother-in-law, Edouard Surette and Adèle Donelle; by his brothers, Frank, Gerald, Percy and Wilfred; and by his sisters, Eliza, Florence and Susanna. He was also predeceased by his niece, Beverly Smith. Arrangements are in the care of Brenan's Select Community Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John (634-7424). The family will receive visitors at the Funeral Home on Sunday and Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated in St. Joachim's Church, 603 Loch Lomond Road, Saint John, on Tuesday morning, February 26, 2008 at 11:00 am. Interment will follow in St. Joseph's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to Prostate Cancer Detection Inc. of the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation, Hospice Saint John, or to the Palliative Care Unit, Saint John Regional Hospital.