GALLANT Napoleon (Paul) Andrew Joseph Gallant, born November 14, 1917, passed away peacefully on November 15, 2008 with family at his side at the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice Home, one day after celebrating his 91st birthday. Paul was born on a farm at Big River, Saskatchewan. His Acadian ancestors were one of the original settler families arriving in Nova Scotia on a boat from Saint Malo, France in 1632 and his family moved to Saskatchewan in the early 1900s. Having lost his father at the age of six, Paul was needed to work on the family farm as he was deemed too helpful to go to school. In his teens he spent weeks at a time working in the frigid cold of Northern Saskatchewan, running trap lines and ice fishing. He enlisted in the army for World War II, and worked fabricating small machine parts in various locations in Canada. After the war he went to work for the railway. On one trip to Hardisty, Alberta he met his beloved Annie in a small caf>>. Beginning their future together they moved to Vernon briefly and then in 1946 on to Kamloops where he developed his trade as a carpenter. Initially he worked for Dalgleish and Delgarno. After being laid off, he arrived at the construction site of John Peterson School. The contractor, Bob Metcalfe, hired Paul instantly based on his reputation as a dedicated worker. Paul became the foreman on the job for eighteen years. Together they worked on three different Kamloops City Halls (the first had a hitching post outside), the Stockyards Building (now the Pavilion Theatre), many downtown businesses, garages and motels throughout the province. As well, he built his own house and workshop, additions to Sacred Heart Cathedral and renovations to Stuart Wood and Allan Mathews Schools. On his last large construction job, Paul began the layout of Aberdeen Mall, with only the engineer and himself on site for the first month. Paul and Annie were married on March 17, 1946, and were blessed with six children. Prior to Annie’s death in 2006, they celebrated 60 years of marriage. Paul was deeply involved in both his community and church (Sacred Heart Cathedral). He was president of the Powers Addition Community Association, sang in the church choir and was a man whom his neighbours would turn to in time of need. He supported his family through happy and difficult times. He met challenges with industriousness and ingenuity. Paul leaves his daughters Alice (Jim Therres), Marie (Doug Scott), Christine (Doug Hamilton), Jeanette (Doug Madsen) and his sister Sarah. Paul was predeceased by his wife Annie, his son Pat, his daughter Marg (Bob Lehto), his great granddaughter Joanne and eight of his nine siblings. Paul also leaves many grandchildren and great grandchildren, Anne, Peter, Molly, Billy-Jo, Conrad, Callie, Justin, Quinn, Sienna, Jordan, Clayton, Christina, Ryan, Cory, Amy and Cole. The family wishes to thank Dr. Phil Sigalet, the staff at Ponderosa Lodge and the staff at Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice Home for their excellent care of Paul. Please join us in remembering Paul and celebrating his life at a Memorial Mass on Saturday, November 22, 2008 at 11:00 A.M. at Sacred Heart Cathedral, with reception to follow. Should friends desire, donations in memory of Paul to the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Hospice Home, 72 Whiteshield Crescent, South, Kamloops, BC, V2E 2S9 would be appreciated. On-line condolences may be expressed at www.schoenings.com Arrangements are entrusted to Schoening Funeral Service, telephone 250-374-1454