October 24, 1947 – August 2, 2016

It is with much sadness and broken hearts that we announce the passing of Robert Philippe Dansereau at Royal University Hospital on August 2, 2016 at the age of 68.  Robert was born on October 24, 1947 to Hercule and Parmélia Dansereau.  He was the twelfth of 13 children.  He had many fond memories of growing up as the youngest boy with 10 older brothers.  His many siblings fondly nicknamed him ‘Bear’, a name many of them still call him today.  His love of family, the Montreal Canadiens, good food and a deep faith were fostered during these early years of growing up in Prince Albert.  On September 1, 1973, Robert married the love of his life, Paulette Langlois, and became a proud father to his son Luc in 1975 and his daughter Nicole in 1977.  His family was everything to him and he always worked hard to support them in every way he could.  Whether it was going on trips to BC or the Cayman Islands, cooking meals (enough for the whole Dansereau clan even though we were only a family of 4!), or attending Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral, he always emphasized the importance of doing those things as a family.  Robert proudly worked at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary from 1974-1992 until poor health no longer allowed him to work.  However, he kept up many of the friendships he had built with colleagues and enjoyed coffee row at Tim Horton’s with many of them.  In more recent years, the patients and staff of the Renal Dialysis Unit at the Victoria Hospital became his second family.  His grandchildren also brought him tremendous joy and he loved every moment he spent with them.  Robert was the strongest person many people knew.  Despite years of failing health, he constantly defied the odds against him and continuously showed a strength and positive attitude that is an example to others.  He was most definitely a man of 9 lives and we were always grateful that God gave us extra time with him!  Robert is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Paulette; his son Luc (Gina) and their daughter Stephanie of Edmonton, AB; his daughter Nicole (Ryan) Banadyga and their children Olivia, Jackson and Lincoln of Prince Albert, SK.  He also leaves to mourn his siblings and their spouses: Ray (Irene), Irene, André (Suzanne), Clement (Leona), Virginia, Germaine, Ronald (Diane), Maurice, Teena, Roger, and Lucille (Victor) Hernandez; as well as his in-laws: Bernard (Eileen) Langlois, Cécile (Edouard) Langlois, Gilles (Sandy Cram) Langlois, Guy (Lindy) Langlois and Claude (Sandra) Langlois, and Pierrette Dansereau.  He was also a proud uncle to numerous nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his parents Hercule and Parmélia (Ethier) Dansereau; a sister Marie in infancy; his parents-in-law Paul and Irène (Chicoine) Langlois; his brothers Paul, René, Georges, Denis, and his sisters-in-law Olga and Anita.  Public Visitation will be held on Friday, August 5, 2016 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Gray’s Funeral Chapel, 575 – 28th Street West, Prince Albert, SK. Funeral Mass will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 6, 2016 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, 1401 – 4th Avenue West, Prince Albert, SK with Celebrant Reverend Father Matthew Nguyen.  Interment will be held at Prince Albert Memorial Gardens.  In lieu of other tributes, memorial donations can be made to the Victoria Hospital Foundation, Renal Dialysis Unit, 1200 – 24th Street West, Prince Albert, SK S6V 5T4.  Condolences may be sent to the family at www.grays.ca.  Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Gray’s Funeral Chapel, (306-922-4729).

“I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7).  Yes, dad, you did fight the good fight and you always kept your faith.  You have touched our hearts with your strength and bravery more than you will ever know and we are comforted with knowing you are now at peace and no longer suffering.

• Date : 2016-08-02