JULIEN PELLETIER

APRIL 10, 1941 – APRIL 8, 2024

Julien took his first breath April 10, 1941, on the family farm in Duck Lake, Saskatchewan. He was greeted by his parents, Emile and Anne Marie, and mid-wife (possibly the veterinarian) who happened to be on-hand. Either way, he was “a good catch,” as Julien regularly reminded his family, and throughout his life he proved this to be true over and over again.

Julien deeply respected his family and embraced farm life under their guidance. Growing up with 4 sisters in a small farmhouse, they thrived with love, prayers, patience, and hard work. His commitment to hard work was so engrained that one day when told to “go pound sand,” his parents couldn’t figure out why, when looking out the window, he was pounding fence posts into the ground. Farming chose Julien before he had time to make up his own mind. It was in his blood, spirit, and upbringing. After becoming proficient with fence post pounding and sharpening, he took over the responsibilities of the farm. Until November of this year, hard work and tending to the land brought Julien fulfillment and pride. He found solace in walking fence lines and inspecting the land that was home in heart, where he grew up alongside his siblings and raised his own family.

On November 9, 1968, Julien was proud to take Annette as his wife. They were soul mates, kindred in spirit, Catholicism, and values. Just as his parents did, she too would ask Julien to “pound sand.” As there were no more fences to build, he constructed a larger house on the farm for his beloved wife and 3 children. In 1985 he moved his family to Salmon Arm where he dabbled in real estate, bus driving and skiing while maintaining the family farm.

In 2006, Julien and Annette realized “while you can take the farmer out of Saskatchewan, you can’t take Saskatchewan out of the farmer.” They returned home, reuniting with their dearest family and friends.

Upon retirement, Julien, took up “PR work.” Posing some confusion at first, Annette would spot his vehicle at Burger King, McDonald’s and Tim Hortons. Turns out “PR work” meant “Practicing Retirement” with friends. Making connections with people wherever life took him, including the hospital, was his strength. He offered a tremendous sense of humour, friendship, and companionship to many and in the end his “PR work” was his greatest gift. He held his family closest to his heart proudly sharing stories of his children and grandchildren. As he began his end-of-life journey, we received overwhelming support from family, friends, priests and at times complete strangers; a testament to his profound impact and connections he fostered throughout his life. For that we are forever grateful and cannot express our thanks enough. He will be forever missed.

Julien’s family would like to thank all the nurses, doctors, and staff at the Hospice at Glengarda for supporting with humour, sensitivity, and compassion.

Julien Pelletier is survived by…his wife, children and grandchildren: Annette Pelletier; Luc (Lisa) Pelletier & Julia; Monique (Kevin Toews) Pelletier, Zach & Ainsley; Joel (Kathy) Pelletier, Jackson & Carter; sisters: Lucille Gauthier, Rose (Charlie) Forseille & Susan Pelletier; sisters-law: Claire Bazylak and Claudette Nicolas; brothers-in-law: Paul, Guy & Ben Lanovaz; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his: parents Emile and Anne-Marie Pelletier; sister Jeannette Frenette; mother and father-in-law Marie and Ernest Lanovaz; brothers-in-law Valmor Gauthier, Gilles Frenette, Wayne Nicolas and Ron Bazylak; and nephew Daniel Frenette.

The Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, April 13, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church, Duck Lake, Saskatchewan, with celebrant Rev. DJ Vu and concelebrant Rev. Maurice Fiolleau. Interment of Julien’s Ashes – Private Family Ceremony – Saturday, April 13, 2024, following Church Service @Blessed Sacrament R.C. Cemetery, Duck Lake, SK.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial Donations may be made to the following: Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church, Box 160 Duck Lake, SK S0K 1J0; Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, Box 638 Duck Lake, SK S0K 1J0; Glengarda Hospice, 301 Hilliard St E, Saskatoon, SK S7J 0E5.

Arrangements are in care of Funk’s Funeral Home, Rosthern, SK, www.funksfuneralhome.ca.

• Date : 2024-04-08
• Location : Saskatoon, SK