LeBLANC, AZOR - On July 31st, Azor LeBlanc, at age 83, passed away peacefully at the Dr. Georges Dumont Hospital, surrounded by members of his loving family. Having first been diagnosed with Cancer more than 33 years ago, Azor lost his battle Sunday evening. He always had a very positive outlook on life and never slowed his busy schedule because of illness. He never gave up hope of surviving this disease, much to the amazement of all the doctors who treated him through his battle. To him, cancer was just a little challenge in his life. He was a dedicated community leader, always focused on his family, his friends and hard work. New Brunswick has lost a great man who devoted his entire life to the betterment of his community. Born on October 27, 1927, Azor was a leader and a very generous person. He touched the lives of everyone who met him. At the very young age of 13, having lost his father, Azor was working on the family farm and his father’s fish factories in order to help his mother pay for the necessities of maintaining a household full of younger siblings and many others that were welcomed to share at the Leblanc table. After finishing high school in Cap Pelé, he completed his studies at College St Joseph in Memramcook with a commercial course. This course would serve as a knowledge base for his lifelong series of businesses and projects. While in high school in Cap Pele, he met his sweetheart Rose née Leger from Shediac and they were married in November 1948. Azor and Rose had 10 children. They taught all the members of their family the value of integrity, honesty and hard work. From a very early stage of his life, Azor helped his mom provide food and help to the needy in their village. Azor also provided assistance for those who could not afford to further their education. After a short stay in Toronto with his wife Rose, he returned to Shediac where they started their family. He ran the family fish factories in Cap Pelé for a while and after these companies closed down, he was a general contractor. With a large crew of employees, he operated trucks, and headed construction projects with a crew of carpenters. Over his lifetime, he provided employment to hundreds of people. Eventually, he started LeBlanc Hardware in Cap Pele, Handy Andy Store in Shediac, from which he ran the Maritime distributorship for Snow Jet from 1966-1975. During this period, he was the founding President of Flocon Blanc snowmobile Club. He built the Neptune Drive-In , The Neptune Theater and the Neptune Motel in Shediac. He also built the mall in Cap Pelé which now houses the BMO and the local pharmacy. During this period of his life, he was also the fish broker for Paturel Seafoods, buying lobster from all the local fishermen for resale to Paturel’s. He also operated a small dealership for Apalache trailers, sold Christmas trees in Canada and the US, and was the first to operate a distribution bus for the mail in the Greater Shediac rural areas. Azor was always on the go and felt that he could do much more for his community so in 1974, he decided to seek election for the Shediac-Cap-Pelé riding as a Liberal Member. He was elected as MLA in 1974 and re-elected in 1978, 1982 and 1987. He was a passionate politician and worked tirelessly for the people of his riding. He served on many standing committees such as Agriculture, Economic Expansion, Fishing and Natural Resources, Public Accounts Committee and many more. He finished his political career in 1991, having served his community for over 17 years. He managed to coordinate his hectic political career, run his companies and provide for his family while keeping a balance. Rose gave up her teaching career to stay at home with the children. Azor would often work tirelessly in the background, fighting for better roads, improvement in the education field, improvement of schools, better healthcare services for his area, more affordable housing for individuals who were needy and providing food for the poor. When help was not readily available for these individuals, he would often reach in his pocket and provide for the needy on his own, never asking for anything in return. He was also instrumental in transferring a former school to L’Institut Feminin through the Dept of Agriculture. As recognition for his generosity, Azor gained great respect from members of the area. This could be witnessed at nominating conventions or rallies where crowds of close to 5000 people would gather to support him and his work. Azor continued to be passionate about politics up to the very last days of his life. Later on, Azor transferred much of his businesses to his children who took over his legacy. Handy Andy store in Shediac is still operated as a family based company. In the later part of his life, Azor moved to his beloved Cap-Brulé West coastal property. He and Rose had bought this land from his father-in-law Euclide Leger. Azor had built a series of cottages there and moved the family dwelling to this area. He enjoyed spending winter months in the warm climate of Florida with Rose and meeting friends and family at his trailer in Amherst. When the couple’s health became frailer, they relocated to an apartment in their son’s home. Azor LeBlanc was given many talents in his life and he used all of them to the fullest. He had the quality of leadership, generosity, loyalty to his family and friends. Once Azor met a person, he would remember them forever. He always seeked and saw the potential in those he met and would offer opportunities for people to reach their full potential. In the last years of his life, he changed his daily activities and took up cooking, playing the piano and painting. He would always have a project in mind, the last one being trying to organize a family trip from his hospital bed. Azor was also involved in many community organizations and served as counselor for the county of Westmorland, a counselor the Local School Board for 19 years. Azor was also Past President for the Chamber Of Commerce, the Lions Club. He also served as Member of the Canadian Mental Health Association, L’atelier Protègé de Cap Pelé, the Richelieu Club, and the Boishébert Club. He was always actively involved in the local political associations. Azor will be sadly missed by his wife of 61 years, Rose née Leger, of Shediac, his children Jean-Guy (Stella) from Shediac, Gilles (Claudette) of Grand Barachois, Michel (Charlene) of Shediac, Frank (Roger) from Moncton, Omer (Monique) of Shediac, Anne (Jean-Guy) from Dieppe, Nicole (Dean), from Truro, Pierrette Langis (Danny) of Shediac and Paulette (Tammy) from Shediac. Azor is also survived by brothers Raymond and Alphée (Edith) both of Dieppe, and Jean (Rose-Marie) from Cap-Pelé and his sisters Elizabeth Greek from Moncton and Jeanne Olscamp (late Edmond) from Dieppe. He also is survived by his grandchildren Jean-Guy, Pierre, Janelle, Joël and Lise, Luc, Mathieu, Nathalie, Manon, Joline, Isabelle, Nadia and great grandchildren Maxime, Félix and Tori, Christian and Parise. He is also survived by many brothers and sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces and nephews and many friends. Azor was pre-deceased by a son Charles in March 1992. His parents Thaddée à Sam died on April 15th 1941 and his mother Herménie née Cormier died on March 20th 1983. He was also pre-deceased by brothers Aurèle, Joseph, Gérard, Amance, bébé Joseph and André and by sisters Marie Lalonde, Archangela LeBlanc, Claire LeBlanc, Andréa LeBlanc and Catherina LeBlanc.
The family will receive condolences at Frenette Funeral Home, 396 Main Street, Shediac (532-3297). Visiting hours will be on Tuesday, August 2nd from 2 pm to 4 pm and 7 pm to 9 pm. No visitation on Wednesday morning. The funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church on Main Street in Shediac on Wednesday, August 3rd at 11 am.In lieu of flowers, the family of Azor LeBlanc would appreciate donations to the Oncology Dept. of Dr. Georges Dumont Hospital or donations to the charity of your choice. The family wishes to thank all who cared for Azor during his illness. Azor was grateful to all who visited or contacted him during his hospital stay.