Obituary of Tilmon Joseph Gallant

Tilmon Joseph Gallant - It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our Father, which occurred on Friday, May 1st, 2009, at the Saint John Regional Hospital. In advance of his illness, he was a resident of Loch Lomond Villa and was hospitalized as a result of complications related to an earlier surgery. Born in Piusville, PEI, he was the son of the late Mosie and Lauretta (Martin) Gallant. He is survived by his loving wife, of fifty-six years, Irma (Maillet), and their four children, Lucille MacKinnon (Norbert), Reg Gallant (Brenda), Nancy Watts (Robert) and Claude Gallant. He was predeceased by a fifth child, Alvin in 1964. Tilmon was a grandfather to Katie, Kelly, Alec, Grant, Jillan, Julie and Deanne, a brother to Leo, Alyre, Edgar, Mildred, Beatrice, Edna and Marie, who live in Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Ohio. He was predeceased by brothers, Martin and Elmer. He also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews. Tilmon was a devoted husband to his wife and a great father and role model to his children. He took immense pride in their accomplishments and later on, those of his grandchildren. In 1944, near the conclusion of WWII, he enlisted in the Armed Forces where he served two years in Canada and continental Europe. He met his future wife in the early 1950’s, in Saint John. Tilmon worked with T. McAvity’s & Sons, later called Crane Canada Inc., as a machinist, retiring after 39 years. Upon his retirement, he and his wife relocated to Richibucto, where Tilmon was very active in the community as a member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #30, was Past President of the St. Louis Golden Age Club, volunteered for the Meals-on-Wheels Program and also worked as a volunteer with seniors. Tilmon enjoyed several summer seasons as an on-site manager of a large u-pick vegetable garden. During those eighteen years following his retirement, his family has many warm memories of holidays and summers spent with Tilmon and Irma. He will be fondly remembered for his love of playing cards, a pass time in which he spent countless hours over the course of his life. Dad enjoyed a close relationship with a wide circle of friends and relatives that lived in Saint John, Moncton, Prince Edward Island and Richibucto. He enjoyed camping on weekends, card games, travelling and evenings of easy companionship. He had great faith and was a devout Roman Catholic. Arrangements are entrusted to Kennebecasis Select Community Funeral Home, 152 Pettingill Road, Quispamsis, NB, (506) 849-2119, with visitation on Tuesday, from 3-8 PM, with Vigil Prayers being held at 8 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, Quispamsis, at 10:00 AM. Burial will take place in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to a charitable organization of the donor’s choice would be appreciated. Online donations and condolences may be made at: www.kennebecasisfh.com We wish to gratefully acknowledge the care and support he was given by all the nursing staff of 3CN, at the Saint John Regional Hospital, while he was a patient.