Lieutenant-Colonel (Ret’d) Joseph Maurice Fernand “Fern” Bourassa passed away peacefully at the age of 90 on August 7, 2023 at the Perley Health Centre in Ottawa.
The son of Raoul and Marie-Jeanne (née Tousignant) Bourassa, he is survived by his wife Micheline (née Paquin), his children Paul, Marie-José (André Menoche) and Pascale, his grandchildren Charles and Dominique (Bourassa), Virginie, Delphine and Anaïs (Locas), Emmanuelle and Charlotte (Keogh), as well as his great-granddaughter Kaia (Bourassa).
He is survived and will be missed by his siblings, André, Gérard (Nicole Simard), Hélène, Irène, Céline and Marc (Thérèse Daniel), as well as by his many nieces and nephews. His brother Émile and sisters Madeleine and Annette predeceased him. Fern will also be missed by Josée-Anne Simard, Luc Locas and Tobias Keogh.
Born in Trois-Rivières in 1932, Fern studied at Séminaire de Chambly before becoming an electrical engineer, having graduated from McGill University and the Royal Military College of Science (United Kingdom). He served in the Canadian Armed Forces for over 34 years and held postings in Kingston, Halifax, Montreal, the United Kingdom, Quebec City, Toronto and Ottawa, among others. He was Commander of the Technical School at CFB St-Jean-sur-Richelieu in the 1970s.
An accomplished chess player, Fern was also a genealogy and astronomy enthusiast as well as a natural athlete, having excelled at swimming, tennis, golf, sailing and skiing, among many other sports.
Following his retirement from the Armed Forces, LCol Bourassa taught computer science at Algonquin College in Ottawa. Generous with his time and many talents, he was an active member of Club Richelieu and volunteered with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind over many years. He also spent countless hours repairing computers for his many friends and neighbours.
A memorial and religious service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 26 in the Sacred Space of the Beechwood Cemetery, located at 280 Beechwood Avenue in Ottawa.
A simple thought or gesture towards the less fortunate would be a fitting tribute to Fern’s legacy. In lieu of flowers, the family thanks you for considering a donation to Perley Health, where he was cared for with great kindness. www.answeringthecall.care/donate.
Digital Guestbook
Kate Pace Lindsay
Danielle Murray-Charron
Mes sincères condoléances à Micheline, Paul, Marie-Josée et Pascale ainsi qu’à vos familles. J’ai passé de beaux moments dans ma jeunesse chez la famille Bourassa. J’ai de beaux souvenirs de M. Bourassa, assis dans son fauteuil Lazy Boy, toujours accueillant et prêt pour une jasette ou même une petite leçon de vie pour Pascale et moi!
Mes pensées et prières sont avec vous.
Danielle Murray-Charron
Sandra Murray-Leduc & Marc Leduc
Marie-José, nos sincères condoléances à toi et toute la famille. Puissiez-vous célébrer ensemble une vie bien vécue avec toutes les beaux souvenirs et joie que votre « papa » vous a donné.
Sandra & Marc
Jane-Hélène Gagnon et Guy Fréchet
Nos sincères condoléances à toute la famille Bourassa, particulièrement à Gérard et Nicole.
Carole Campbell
Habitant au 460 St Laurent, j'ai eu le plaisir de rencontrer Fernand. Il était toujours agréable et toujours avec un beau sourire. Il prenait toujours le temps de me dire bonjour. Micheline mes sincères condoléances et à ta famille.
Pascale & family, Our sincere condolences on the loss of your Father. May you find comfort as you celebrate the wonderful memories of his life. Hugs and prayers.
Mark & Kate Lindsay