Leonce (Leo) Telesphore Desrochers

Leonce (Leo) Telesphore Desrochers

Leo, nick named “Pitou”, was born 95 years ago in Lafontaine, Ontario, the 1st (but last surviving) of 6 children of Adrien Desrochers and Bertha Grenier. He died peacefully at home with his wife, Hyacinth (MacDonald), by his side. He leaves behind his 5 children: Gerald, Ronald (Deborah Smith), Marcel, Raymond, and Suzanne (Venerino Panici, d 2019); 5 grandchildren: Christine (Jason Chapman), Jeannette (Matt Porringa), Michelle (Duncan Brain), Kelvyn, and Elyse; 6 great-grandchildren: Ross, Brooke, Jane, Mave, Baruch, and Amos. 

An eleventh generation French Canadian, Leo’s great-grandfather moved the Desrochers family to Lafontaine, Ontario, from Joliette, Quebec, in 1871. Leo’s father died in 1938 shortly after losing the farm during the depression, so he left school at 11 and worked to support his family. After his mother died in 1942, he and his siblings were cared for by his uncle, Robert Grenier. Leo became a Merchant Marine on the Great Lakes at 17.

Leo landed at Port Colborne, Ontario, where he met and married Irene Seguin in 1948. They had 5 children and moved to Ottawa. He became a single dad in 1966.  Teenage Ron stayed with him. On Saturdays, they enjoyed playing pick-up hockey together. Leo met and married Hyacinth in 1985 in Brampton. Leo was a driver: TTC streetcar, milkman, breadman. Leo’s favorite job was driving his own 18-wheeler everywhere across North America. Leo and Hyacinth moved to Petawawa in 2011, where they found a warm and welcoming community.

Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday, July 15 at 2:00 p.m. in Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, Petawawa, followed by cremation. Interment will take place in St. Ann’s Cemetery, Penetanguishene, Ontario at a later date. If you wish, a donation in memory of Leo to your local Food Bank would be appreciated. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the Valley Funeral Home, Deep River.

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