Maurice Oscar Desautels

Mr. Maurice Desautels passed away peacefully at the Moose Mountain Lodge, Carlyle, SK. on Monday, December 20, 2021 at the age of 98.

Maurice Desautels was born on Dec. 16, 1923 in St. Gabriel Hospital in Ponteix, SK., he was the eighth child and the first of the family to be born in a hospital. After attending Comfort country school for his school years, Maurice helped on his father’s farm and after harvest he would find winter work. In late 1942, he headed to beautiful BC where he found work in construction, then later as a laborer at the Shelter-Lead Refinery in Trail, BC and in 1946 in a logging camp in Cranbrook. He travelled through many states custom combining with a custom combining outfit from Ponteix for a couple of harvests. In 1947 he ended up in the Alida district where he met Yvonne Bertholet at a dance. Maurice and Yvonne were married on Nov. 22, 1948 and celebrated their 73rd anniversary this year. Maurice and Yvonne took over Yvonne’s parent’s farm as they were retiring. From 1948 to 1981, they were engaged in mixed farming and raised a family of six children, many memories were made there. For many years, Maurice directed the church choir at Cantal. He was secretary of Cantal School Board for a period of ten years, and was councilor for the R.M. #32 for 13 years. He was also the Financial Secretary for the Knights of Columbus from 1970 to 1978 and Grand Knight for the years 1967 and 1968. In 1981, Maurice and Yvonne sold the farm to their son Normand and moved to Okanagan, BC where they purchased LaVilla Motel situated close to the south beach of Skaha Lake. Maurice and Yvonne enjoyed their years there. In 1988, they retired from active life and moved to Kenosee Lake, SK. where they built a beautiful log house and spent many happy years. In 2016, Maurice moved to the Golden Heritage Court in Carlyle so he could visit with Yvonne who was in the lodge there. He lived there until July 2020 when he moved into Moose Mountain Lodge because of declining health and was even closer to Yvonne. Maurice died in his sleep on the morning of Monday, December 20th, 2021, 4 days after his 98th birthday.

Maurice was predeceased by his parents, Horace and Docia (Landry) Desautels; brothers, Ernest, Robert, Roger, Lucien and Edouard; sisters, Yvonne Desautels, Lucienne Desautels, Florence Schell and Beatrice Goulet; and his youngest daughter, Lisette Dubuc.

He is survived by his wife, Yvonne of 73 years; his children, Gerry (Debbie), Gisele (Garry) Bartolf, David, Normand (Dorothy), and Gilbert; son-in-law, Darryl Dubuc; sister, Gertrude Mondor; sisters-in-law, Claire Germain and Simone Desautels; eighteen grandchildren, thirty six great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter; numerous nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Raphael's Roman Catholic Church - Cantal, SK. on Monday, December 27, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Father Vicente Borre as celebrant. The interment followed at St. Raphael's Parish Cemetery.

Following the burial a time of lunch and visiting was held at the Alida Community Hall, Alida, SK.

Donations in memory of Maurice can be directed to the Alzheimer Society of Saskatchewan, 301-2550-12th Avenue, Regina, SK. S4P 3X1.

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