Leo Roy, my grandfather was born April 21st 1913, in St. Neree, Quebec, to Oscar & Marie Louise Roy.
In July of 1934, Leo married Jeanne and from that union 6 children were born; Collette, Glyslaine, John, Jacqueline, Serge, and Gerry.
These children presented Leo and Jeanne with 11 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren.
The important points in Leo’s life; Moving to Val D’or in 1941 then out west here in 1952. He worked for Gordi McLeod and Diamond Bus Lines until 1966, and Acme Brake until he retired, giving up his private parking spot. His private parking spot came about when he was working for Clarence, he went in one day and couldn’t find a spot to park his car, so Leo returned home. When Clarence called him up and asked why he wasn’t at work, Leo said that there wasn’t a place to park, so Clarence gave Leo a special place to park, where no-one else was allowed to park, so he could be at work everyday.
But even in retirement he was always active. He was a master mechanic. All Self learned, he never went to school to learn what he did. When Leo was in his teens, maybe 14 or 15, he got a bicycle for his birthday, which he rode around for a while. One of his friends liked the bicycle and offered a trade for a motorcycle, Leo accepted the trade, he preferred even then a faster mode of transportation. When he got it, it was in pieces, all in a box. Someone took it apart and didn’t know how to put it all back together, so Leo worked at it, for weeks and weeks he played with it in his spare time until he eventually got it together. He and his friends got together and they pushed it and when Leo started it, Boom! he was off like a shot, leaving everyone in the dust. Over the years he advanced his talent to the point that he was able to diagnose a problem with a motor just by listening to it.
Leo was also very compassionate, and humanitarian. He would not refuse anyone needing help. Family, friends, neighbors, strangers, he would help them all. Once again, back in his teens, Leo lived in Barrute, and the nearest hospital was in Amos, some 70 miles away. One winter there was a lady who became very sick, and the town priest came to Leo and asked him to go to Amos to get some medicine for the lady for without it, she would surely die. Leo and another man jumped into Leo’s car and took off for the hospital. As Leo put it, he was able to get to Amos before the other man lit his pipe. Probably stretched a little on the truth, but that shows how Leo was eager to help people, and his love for humor.
The great loves of Leo’s Life: Driving, Camping, His Family and Kentucky Fried Chicken. Whenever there was a family event at his house, or when out of town family came in for a visit, it was off to KFC. It became tradition while I was growing up, and whenever I heard that something was being planned with the family, I couldn’t wait because I knew that there would be KFC there. It helped the family bond together, and overall, that’s what Leo wanted, a strong and loving family.
And what a family it is. All of us here today have been influenced and touched in some special way by Leo. Everyone here has a bit of Leo in us; our strength, compassion, kind heartiness, humor, mechanical aptitude, determination, imagination, creativity. Whatever it is, is a gift from Leo to us, if we look inside of us, we’ll see it. As long as it’s there, he’s never truly gone, he’ll live on through us.
There will be refreshments at the Ukrainian hall after the service and all are welcome.
Now if anyone would like to come forth and say a few words, Thank you.
