Obituary of Benjamin Plourde

PLOURDE, Benjamin -It is with great sorrow Robert and Marilyn Plourde announce the passing of their beloved son Benjamin on Sunday February 18, 2024 at Barrie, Ontario.

Benjamin was born March 2, 1982 at Chapleau General Hospital. He attended Our Lady of Fatima Elementary School in Chapleau and graduated from Chapleau High School. He completed his Conductor Course at George Brown College but decided to go to work for Molson Brewing in Toronto. His love of the North and his family drew him home again. He worked for the Ministry of Natural Resources as a firefighter and ultimately landed his dream job with Redpath at the Borden Lake mine which he loved. 

Ben loved to play guitar and joined his friends, in many happy jamming sessions. He and his friends were avid snowboarders and were the first ones to snowboard at the Chapleau Ski Club. Ben loved animals and had a special place in his heart for the family pets especially his cat Cheddar Meow.

Benjamin had his Trapping Licence being the fourth generation to trap on his great-grandfathers Albert Moreau’s trapline. He became an expert hunter and fisherman. Almost every year he bagged his moose. His best friend and cousin Remi Plourde was a constant companion at the family camps at Nemegos and they had many adventures exploring the surrounding wilderness. Benjamin was a member of the Chapleau Cree First Nation and was proud of his native heritage. His great-great-grandparents were William and Jane (nee McAuley) Linklater founding members of his band.

He leaves to mourn him his mother Marilyn (nee Moreau) Plourde and father Robert Plourde. His dad was also his best buddy and they enjoyed a close friendship. His older brother Jonathan (Kelly) and younger brother Cameran (Robyn Brunette) were true friends as well as brothers and will miss him forever. Predeceased by maternal grandparents Regis and Lila (nee Linklater) Moreau. His paternal grandparents Gerard (deceased)and Cecile (Turbide) Plourde. 

Also to mourn him are his paternal aunts, uncles and cousins, Michael and Joanne (Bouchard) Plourde with Sylvain (deceased), Patrick, Mitch and Levi (Christina), Danny Plourde (Trish) with Natalie and David, Suzanne (Plourde) and Joe with Joey (Megan) Clifford, Mark (Andrea) Clifford, Luc Plourde and Kathy Boucher with Chantal, Remi, Liann and Joel.

   
His maternal aunts, uncles and cousins, Mary Gail (Moreau) O’Riley and Syd (deceased) with Shawn, Joanne (Moreau) Branchaud and Michael with Andrea (Bourgeault) and DeAnne (Branchaud) Gauthier, Katherine (Moreau) Piche and Terry with Scott (McKechnie), Melissa, Cory and Darcy. Anne Marie (Moreau) Barsalou and Donny with Christopher (Erin), Rebecca Barsalou, Shannan (Barsalou) Flint and Steven, Mathew Barsalou, Cynthia Moreau with son Ryder, Valerie Moreau with Vanessa and Stepanie St. Cyr, Shawn Moreau with daughter Amber Lila, Douglas Moreau, Wendy Moreau with Chantal (Gravel), Julia and Hailey Frankow and also many nieces and nephews.  

Benjamin was a caring and loving uncle to Cameran and Robyn’s three children, Selena, and identical twins Eli and Leon.

The pallbearers are Benjamin’s best friends Christopher Barsalou, Remi Plourde, Ben Mulligan, Shawn Chavigny, Joe Couture and Marcel Bouchard. Honorary Pallbearers are Kari Luhtasaari and Levi Plourde. The family would like to thank everyone who contributed food and all the condolences. Memorial donations to Sacred Heart Parish, Chapleau in Benjamin’s name would be appreciated. Benjamin would have been very proud of the support from the community for his family.  

A visitation will be held at Sacred Heart Church on Friday February 23, 2024 for family from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and for the public from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The funeral mass will be held at the church on Saturday February 24, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Reverend Duolomane (Joe) Okamba officiating. Burial will take place at the Chapleau Municipal Cemetery in the spring. “Thank You and God Bless”

(Arrangements entrusted to the Kerry Funeral Home, Wawa, 1-800-439-4937). www.kerryfuneralhome.ca