Due to government-imposed restrictions related to COVID-19, attendance will be restricted to a limited number of individuals, personally invited by the family.
Drouin, Capt Raymond (Ray) Ret’d.
MMM.CD.
Ray passed away on Friday May 14, 2021, 4pm, at Portobello Residence, age 88, surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife and the love of his life of 65 years, Helen, and by devoted son Paul and loving daughter Samantha. Proud grandfather of Shannon. Dear brother of Denise and Jacqueline. Long-time friend to Gaston, Pat, Louise, Gilbert, Tony, and so many others from the Friday Breakfast Club and from the Royal Canadian Legion Orleans Branch 632 and from the Royal Canadian Air Force Association (410 Wing RCAFA). Will be fondly remembered by son-in-law and coffee buddy Ray Gould, and by nieces, nephews, brothers- and sisters-in-law.
A 35 year proud veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, Ray joined the RCAF in 1951. He served at Canadian Forces Bases Aylmer, Trenton, St-Sylvestre, Senneterre, St-Hubert, Longue-Pointe, Valcartier, NDHQ Ottawa, and in Germany at USAF base Ramstein and CFB Baden-Soellingen. He also served with United Nations Emergency Forces II in Ismalia, Egypt (1977). Post CAF-retirement, Ray happily worked with Dominion Command of the Royal Canadian Legion, Tunney’s Pasture. Post-Post retirement, Ray started a breakfast club for retired CAF members and worked diligently to organize the creation of a monument and ceremony commemorating the victims of the tragic crash in 1956 of CF-100 Canuck into Villa St-Louis, a retirement and rest home of the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa, located in Hiawatha Park, Orleans. Ray also continued to read history voraciously, completed three Canada Army 5K walks (2013, 2014, 2015) in Ottawa, keenly followed the daily global and local news, delighted in the extended family of beloved dogs and cats, followed closely the lives and careers of his beloved children and granddaughter Shannon, travelled extensively in the US and Canada, and enjoyed a beer every day at 4pm. Despite a diagnosis with Parkinson’s Disease in 2017, Ray continued to find joy in his interests and passions, including his daily beer. Upon moving to Portobello in 2020 he was able to receive the additional care and support that he needed, while maintaining loving connections with his close family.
Thank you to the caring nurses and assisted living personnel at Portobello, to caregivers Kwan and Jasmine from Qualicare, to Veteran’s Affairs Canada, to the Champlain LIHN, to Francis from Bayshore Health Services. Thank you to Saint Elizabeth Health Care, and to the Orleans Palliative Care team for compassionate care and infinite kindness.
In lieu of flowers, In Memoriam donations to Doctors Without Borders would be appreciated. A visitation with friends and family will take place at Beechwood National Memorial Centre, 280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario.
En raison de la situation sanitaire actuelle, seul un nombre restreint de personnes personnellement invité par la famille pourra participer.
Capitaine Raymond (Ray) Drouin, retraité
MMM CD
Ray est décédé entouré de sa famille à la Résidence Portobello, à l’âge de 88 ans, le vendredi 14 mai 2021 à 16 h. Il laisse dans le deuil sa femme Hélène, l’amour de sa vie depuis 65 ans, son fils dévoué Paul, sa fille adorée Samantha, sa petite-fille Shannon dont il était très fier et ses chères soeurs Denise et Jacqueline. Il laisse également ses amis de longue date Gaston, Pat, Louise, Gilbert, Tony et plusieurs autres du Club des petits déjeuners du vendredi et de la filiale 632 de la Légion royale canadienne à Orléans ainsi que de l’Escadre 410 de l’Association de l’Aviation Royale du Canada. Son gendre et ami avec lequel il prenait le café, Ray Gould, et plusieurs nièces, neveux, belles-soeurs et beaux-frères s’en souviendront affectueusement.
Un fier vétéran de 35 ans des Forces armées canadiennes, Ray a joint l’ARC en 1951. Il a servi aux bases des forces canadiennes à Aylmer, Trenton, St-Sylvestre, Senneterre, St-Hubert, Longue-Pointe et Valcartier, au QGDN à Ottawa, ainsi qu’en Allemagne à la base américaine de Ramstein et à la BFC Baden-Soellingen. Il a également servi avec la Force d’urgence des nations unies II à Ismalia en Égypte (1977). Après son départ à la retraite des FAC, Ray a travaillé avec joie à la Direction nationale de la Légion royale canadienne au parc Tunney. Après sa deuxième retraite, Ray a lancé un club des petits déjeuners pour les membres retraités des FAC et a travaillé avec diligence pour organiser la création d’un monument et d’une cérémonie pour commémorer les victimes de l’écrasement tragique en 1956 du CF-100 Canuck sur la Villa St-Louis, une maison de retraite et de repos des Soeurs de la charité à Ottawa située dans le parc Hiawatha à Orléans. En plus d’être un avide lecteur d’histoire, Ray a complété trois marches de 5 kilomètres de l’armée canadienne (2013, 2014, 2015) à Ottawa, a suivi attentivement l’actualité tant locale que mondiale, a pris plaisir à s’amuser avec les chiens et les chats de la grande famille, a suivi de près la vie et la carrière de ses bien-aimés enfants et petite-fille Shannon, a beaucoup voyagé au Canada et aux États-Unis, et a dégusté une bière tous les jours à 16 h. En dépit d’un diagnostic de la maladie de Parkinson en 2017, Ray a continué à trouver de la joie dans ses intérêts et passions, dont sa bière quotidienne. Lorsqu’il est déménagé à la Résidence Portobello en 2020, il a reçu les soins et l’appui additionnels nécessaires tout en conservant des liens serrés avec ses proches.
Merci au bienveillant personnel infirmier et d’assistance à la vie de Portobello, aux soignantes Kwan et Jasmine de Qualicare, aux Anciens combattants Canada, au RLISS de Champlain, à Francis des services de soins de santé de Bayshore. Merci aussi au Saint Elizabeth et à l’équipe de soins palliatifs d’Orléans pour leur compassion et leur extrême gentillesse.
Plutôt que d’envoyer des fleurs, un don in memoriam à Médecins sans frontières serait apprécié. Une visite pour la famille et les amis aura lieu au Centre commémoratif national de Beechwood, au 280, avenue Beechwood, à Ottawa (Ontario).
Livre de visiteurs
Marlene Schmidle
Louise Maziarski
I had the great pleasure to work in Ray’s next cubicle at Tunney’s Pasture. What a fine gentleman!! We shared many great laughs and coffees together and of course, beer on Fridays. Although we worked together for only 3 years in the early 90s, we remained friends to this day. RIP mon cher ami!! Deepest condolences to the family. My prayers and thoughts are with you during this very difficult time.
Al Johnson
Just surviving and being a part of our community made our days worthwhile.
Roch Gilbert
I got to meet Ray some years ago in Montreal in 1975 as we were working for the same organization. Our paths separated until we met again when I joined the Breakfast club some 12 years ago. My very sincere condolences to family and friends. My prayers are with you. May he rest in peace!
Henri Blanchard
Sympathies à toute la famille.
Bob Corley Col (ret) Corley
Mrs sincères condoléances à la famille. RIP
Yves Gautron
Nos sincères condoléances à toute la famille pour le un ami de longue date.
Jack Andrews CD (CWO retired) Knights of the Round Table
Ray was a long time member of the Knights of the Round Table which is currently located in Branch 632 Orleans Legion. It is a stand up table for drinking beer and socializing with friends and solving all the worlds problems. The Knights are well known for million dollar ideas but not for two dollar implementations. Rays plaque will be removed from the outer ring of plaques on the table and installed in a place of honour on the inner ring. We will remember him.
Peter Krayer
When I met Ray at the Friday Breakfast Club and at the Legion, I immediately knew that he was a gentleman, an organizer and a doer, who saw opportunities to help his fellow citizens and acted on them. While many people groused about the lack of bus service in the Taylor Creek industrial park, Ray organized a petition, contacted the city staff and made it happen. Bon voyage on your final journey Ray, you left the world a better place.
Michael Vaillancourt
Ray was a good friend, we worked together in Valcartier. Each Christmas he would play Santa, he was great at it. He will be missed. Our most sincere condolences.
My husband Jules (Joe) Drouin passed away on the 12th May. He was, I believe, a cousin to Raymond and Joe always appreciated the hard work that Raymond did in researching the Drouin family history. May they both rest peacefully now.