Wilfred \'Leonie\' Chiasson
Born In: Cheticamp, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed in: Cheticamp, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: June 19th, 2009
Wilfred ‘Léonie’ Chiasson, 88 of Cheticamp, died June 19, 2009 at Sacred Heart Community Health Centre, Cheticamp.
Born in Cheticamp, he was a son of the late Léonie and Elizabeth ‘Liza’ (Poirier) Chiasson.
Wilfred was a veteran of the Second World War. He was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #32. At 21 years of age, he enlisted in the army and became an excellent “coordinates reader†sniper. After being wounded, he was transferred to Street Military Police.
Discharged in 1946 Wilfred then worked at the Cape Breton Highlands National Park, followed in 1948 as a lighthouse keeper on Cheticamp Island, which he did for 31 years.
He retired at 55 years of age and moved to Cheticamp “Les Caveaux†in 1978. Wilfred was married in 1947 and had eight children. Wilfred and Annie Rose celebrated 60 years of marriage in 2007.
Wilfred had 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Wilfred loved nature, working in his garden, bird watching, painting, sitting outdoors, lighthouses, boats, reading and watching game shows. He was a member of the senior citizens’ club.
He is survived by his wife, Annie Rose (Aucoin) Chiasson; three sons, Jimmie (Monica) Chiasson, Gérald (Yolande) Chiasson, Lionel (Sandra) Chiasson, all of Cheticamp; three daughters, Kathleen Chiasson (Don), Cheticamp, Sylvia Sheridan (Wally), Bradford, Ont., Jeanine Cormier (Cyril), Cheticamp; daughter-in-law, Adéle Chiasson, Cheticamp; brother, James Poirier, Sydney; 11 grandchildren, Michael and Kim; Jimmie and Gerald; Tracey and Darryl; Amy and Todd; Léonard, Evan and Jenna; 11 great-grandchildren, Christopher, Sarah, Jeremy, Brittany, Brooklyn, Madison, T.J., Kayla, Caleb, Carsyn and Austin; one great-great grandchild, Alexander. Godfather to Jeanette Herman (niece), Ethel MacKinnon (niece) and Rose Aucoin.
Besides his parents, Wilfred was predeceased by two sons, Léonard and Charlie Joe; five brothers, Léo, Charlie, Joseph, Lubie, Paulo; two sisters, Antoinette Harrington and Marie Chiasson.
Visitation will be held Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Cheticamp Funeral Home. A funeral mass will be celebrated Monday, June 22 at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Church, Cheticamp with Fr. Peter LeBlanc officiating. Interment in the parish cemetery.
Donations may be made to Cape Breton Cancer Patient Fund.
