Mar. 5, 1930 – Aug. 25, 2011
Paul passed away peacefully at Cascade Lodge in Chilliwack. He was the youngest son of Willie and Dora Levasseur.
Paul is survived by his sister Jean and brother Gerry. He will be forever remembered by his children Tom (Marg), Marilyn (Albert) Mitchell, Ray (Cynthia), Nancy Finnigan, Laura (Chris) Wetaski, 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, and his good friend Dave Rank. He was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Rosemarie, and his son Dennis.
Paul was born in Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan and moved to the west coast as a teenager. While living in New Westminster, Paul worked two jobs as he raised his young family. He drove a truck part-time for Commercial Trucking Co. while he pursued a career at the American Can Company in Vancouver. Not only did he become a mechanic at American Can Co. but he also took an active part in union business. He negotiated several contracts as president of the Steelworkers Union. He brought a tenacious spirit to the negotiating table and was extremely proud of the improved benefits and wages he won for his fellow coworkers. He spent his last few years at the distribution warehouse in Kelowna and retired from there in 1988. He enjoyed sports and cheered passionately for the Montreal Canadiens. In the lacrosse hotbed of Sapperton he was proud to coach the Hume Park Hornets to the BC Championships.
Paul and Rose loved to travel and enjoyed trips to Florida, Belize, Hawaii and Costa Rica, but what they enjoyed most was the snowbird life of living in Oliver, BC, during the summer and then hitching up the 5th wheel to join their many friends at their winter home in Yuma, Arizona. They eventually settled in Chilliwack in 2007 but sadly they didn’t get to enjoy the good life together as illness beset both of them.
Paul struggled with Dementia and Parkinson’s and called Cascade Lodge home where he was cared for by many people, his guardian angels. The family will be forever indebted to the nurses and Dr. Fitzpatrick for the love and respect they showed him. “Pauly” was at a good place but he is now free to join Rose in a better place.
A service will be held at Henderson’s Funeral Home, 45901 Victoria Avenue, Chilliwack, on Saturday, September 10th, 2011 at 2:00 p.m.
Online condolences can be left at www.hendersonsfunerals.com