GALLANT, LIVAIN
It is with heavy hearts that the family of Livain Gallant announce his passing on September 12th, 2015 at the Stella-Maris hospital in Sainte-Anne-de-Kent. Born on May 31st, 1932 in La Prairie, NB, Livain was the son of the late André Gallant and the late Obéline (Richard) Gallant.
Livain was a born businessman. At the age of ten, he ordered school supplies from the closest town, and then sold them to his classmates after the local store had closed its doors. He followed this path in his teenage years, when he bought fish at the local wharves and potatoes from neighboring farms, for door to door sales. His success was noticed by wholesale companies from other provinces. Hill brothers, Rose Drygoods and Duchesneau-Trudeau recruited him as their sales' representative for the Maritime Provinces. Later, with a few partners, they opened their own company, Richibouctou Wholesalers. At one time, he was the sales rep for Laurentide Chemicals, a paint company, greatly amusing his family who knew him to be colorblind.
He was later drawn to sales in the insurance field. Once again, he was sought after; this time by Co-operators insurance. His achievements here were also noteworthy, for in 1969, he was recognized as the top 17th sales rep of the country.
He decided to open his own insurance company in 1972, Livain Gallant Insurance, where he was very proud to serve his clients before retiring, in 1994.
Livain was also an outdoor enthusiast who loved fishing and hunting, and was often quite lucky. After a good catch, he was known to tease his friends and sons. In fact, he seemed to enjoy the teasing just as much as the catch.
However, you were most likely to find him in his workshop, which he had assembled in his garage. There he would spend hours on end building various pieces of furniture for himself or his friends, but most often for his children, who would show him catalogue pictures of desired pieces. On most occasions, these were replicated without a pattern, and were always superior in quality and workmanship than the ones that had been asked for.
Although Livain was proud of his accomplishments both in the business world and in his pastimes, he was prouder still of his family, whom he leaves in mourning.
Indeed, he will be sadly missed by his sons, Blair (Marguerite) of Dieppe, Mike (Nicole) of Aldouane, and Marc (Keitha) of Rexton, and by his daughters, Paulette Girvan (John) of Rexton, Carolle Arsenault (Louis) of Mundleville, and Rhéa Gallant (Charles Richard) of Moncton. He will leave a void like no other in the life of Gloria Arsenault, his loving companion of 25 years. He will also be sadly missed by his sister, Melina Desaulnier (Rich) of Gardner, Massachusetts. Livain also leaves behind twelve grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his brothers, Edgar and Émile and by his sisters, Rita, Edna and Laura. He was also predeceased by Antoinette (Richard), his former wife and the mother of their six children.
Visitation will be held at Thompson Funeral Home in Richibucto on Wednesday, September 16th from 2:00 to 4:00 and from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm, and from 9:00 am until the funeral ceremony, which will be celebrated at the Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague church in Ricibucto on Thursday, September 17th at 11:00 am.
If desired, donations to Palliative Care at the Stella-Maris-de-Kent Hospital would be appreciated.