Our father and husband, Richard Joseph LeBlanc, lived life on his own terms and on March 26, 2024 surrounded by family his spirit left this earth.

He took his first breath on November 1, 1927 in a country house in a small farming village of Kent County New Brunswick. He was the second son and fourth child born to Amanda Cormier and Néri LeBlanc, in a family that would eventually include 14 children.

It is without a doubt his mother Amanda who had the most profound impact on his life. She devoted herself completely to the well-being of her children. Even as a child, Richard was sensitive to his mother’s hardships providing for a growing family with little money, living off the farm and seasonal garden. He would often share how his mother was able to make him and his siblings feel safe and loved despite difficult circumstances. As an adult, he did his best to support his mother in any way that he could.

His father worked in Moncton to provide for an ever-growing family. Richard left school in grade 5 to then take up farming duties out of necessity. He would also do odd jobs that paid pennies per day. At the age of 15, he obtained temporary work with CNR installing rail. In 1949, as work became sporadic, and with few other opportunities, Richard left for Toronto, speaking little English and with a few dollars in his pockets. He started his new life renting a room in a boarding house on King Street West. He found employment with CNR and spoke fondly of his co-workers, the friendships developed and his first exposure to people of other cultures. Up to a few months prior to his death, he spoke proudly of the words of Ukrainian he learned all those many years ago.

He had started dating our mother Bernadette prior to leaving NB, and she eventually joined him and quickly found a job herself. They married in June 1954 at the Paroisse du Sacré Coeur in downtown Toronto. The lustre of Toronto started to wear off for Richard and he was longing to return to NB. When our mother became pregnant with their first child in 1957, they decided it was time to make the move.

Our parents promptly converted their first home in Moncton into one that could accommodate boarders, and help pay expenses. Our mother cooked meals and our father helped with cleaning duties and did the laundry, a division of household chores that would continue until they were well into their eighties.

While Richard’s trade at CN provided for the family, he longed to be his own boss and master of his own destiny. He tried his hand at home renovations and was approached by local industrialist, Reuben Cohen, to take on a contracting job. While proud of this offer, he declined wanting to explore other opportunities. With the help of a family contact, he found his life passion. He and our mother established Richard’s Furniture Ltd on St. George Street across from Aberdeen School. They eventually moved the business to St-Antoine de Kent. With time, the business grew, and he credited the success to their combined talents, our mother’s business acumen and his efforts in providing quality products with excellent customer service. It was a source of great pride to him that former customers would share stories of furniture pieces still in use decades after having been bought.

Our parents eventually built their dream home on a 40-acre lot and integrated the business on their property. The large home was the perfect setting for family gatherings with extended family. As children we have many fond memories of holidays spent with relatives, eating elaborate meals prepared by our mother with our father charged with clean-up duties. They took great pride in this home and Richard spent countless hours working on the grounds and trimming the trees to his exacting standards.

The business eventually sold to an extended family member and Richard worked part-time to ease into retirement. The large home in the country was sold and they moved to Moncton, setting the stage for what our father described as one the happiest periods of his life.

In 2002 and 2005 were born our parents’ only grandchildren, Charles and Claire. They added a spark to our parents’ lives, and they reveled in being an active presence as the babies grew to the adults they are today. There are lots of family stories of Richard providing an endless supply of Oreo cookies, ice cream and his specialty, toasts with special toppings.

Special memories were made at two family homes in Shediac Bridge where countless meals were served to the immediate family and often to members of the extended family. Richard often remarked how lucky we were that family members liked to spend time together with endless laughter and teasing.

Richard often spoke of having been born at the wrong time, and how missed educational opportunities impacted his life. We would remind him of his grit and determination, and the success achieved in building a business from scratch that provided for the family. We were encouraged to pursue our studies and Richard took great pride in the fact that the three of us completed post-secondary education.

Richard took an interest in local and national politics. He wrote many letters to the editor of the Times and Transcript with the help of family, guided by his incredible memory of past events. He kept a scrap book with the published letters, the highlight being when his contribution made "the Letter of the Day." His interest in politics extended beyond writing opinion pieces. He spoke fondly of Dalton Camp, a fellow New Brunswicker and a journalist, politician, political strategist and commentator. Had educational opportunities permitted, our father would have loved to be in a position to influence a government’s direction, given his personal experience with poverty and hardship. While Richard may not have been familiar with the term political strategist, he would have excelled at the role.

As with any other human, Richard had his share of faults and shortcomings, however this is a time to marvel at a life well-lived. He was born with no advantage other than a work ethic that knew no bounds, a determination to make something of his life and a soft heart for those facing life’s challenges. To quote Ralph Waldo Emerson, "… to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived … this is to have succeeded!" In this context, Richard’s life can be celebrated.

Survived by his loving wife of almost 70 years, Bernadette Léger; three daughters: Lucille (Gérard Arsenault), Lise (Roch Lavoie) and Linda (François Emond); his two adored grandchildren, Charles Richard and Claire Hélène.

Survived by his brothers: Walter, Donald (Claudette), and Clarence (Florence); his sisters: Eugenie (late Angus), Géraldine (John) and Fernande (Arthur); sister-in-law Jeannette LeBlanc, brother-in-law Edouard LeBlanc, and several nieces and nephews.

Also survived by sisters-in-law: Anita Melanson (late Louis), Félexine Léger (late Ulysse), Fernande Drisdelle (late Laurie) and Thérèse Pollock (late Bill); and several nieces and nephews.

Predeceased by his parents, Amanda and Néri; siblings: infant Aline, Sarah (late Edgar), Normand (late Yvette), Gerald, Rosaline (late Albert), Imelda and Juliette (late Harold); sister-in-law Stella Léger (late Yvon) and brother-in-law Ulysse.

The family will receive condolences at Frenette Funeral and Cremation Centre, 88 Church Street, Moncton (506-858-1900) from where the funeral service will be celebrated on Saturday April 6 at 11 am. Visiting hours are Friday from 2 to 4 pm and 7 to 9 pm only. The funeral service will be streamed live; to view the funeral, go to Richard’s obituary on the Frenette website. In lieu of flowers, in memory of Richard, donations may be made to the CHU Dumont Foundation or Moncton Headstart.

Words of comfort and donations may be made at www.frenettefuneralhome.com